Rosamund Pike Reflects on “One of the Worst Films Ever Made” and Early Career Stumbles
Rosamund Pike, the acclaimed British actor known for her compelling performances in films like Gone Girl and her Golden Globe win for I Care a Lot, has candidly revealed a significant early career misstep. She described starring in a film so “catastrophic” that she considered it “one of the worst films ever made” and felt fortunate to continue working in Hollywood afterward.
Rosamund Pike
Pike’s journey in the film industry began with a bang, featuring in the iconic James Bond film Die Another Day and later portraying Jane Bennet in Joe Wright’s beloved adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. It was during the filming of the latter, while immersed in the idyllic countryside, that she received an unexpected offer.
“When I was making Pride & Prejudice, and I was having great fun in my cornfields in my bonnet, I get a call to be in an action franchise,” Pike shared on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast. The proposition was to star in a cinematic adaptation of the popular video game Doom. At the time, Pike, seemingly confident in her versatility, recalled thinking, “‘Yeah, I can do anything. I can jump on this hay bale in my crinoline, so I can certainly go and kill some zombies on Mars.'”
The sci-fi horror film Doom, released in 2005, centred on a group of marines confronting monstrous creatures on a Martian research facility. While initially slated to star Ray Winstone, the role ultimately went to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who was then on the cusp of his global superstardom. Johnson’s prior leading roles were limited to The Scorpion King (2002) and Walking Tall (2004), far from the box office titan he would become.
Pike, who is in a long-term relationship with businessman Robie Uniacke, admitted that her foray into the action genre was an uncomfortable experience. “So suddenly I’m in this film with the Rock, and I realise how utterly ill-equipped I am to be an action star,” she confessed.
She described the set as being dominated by “macho guys” who were passionate fans of the Doom video game. Pike recounted the atmosphere, noting the presence of weights on set and the almost reverential treatment of firearms by the game’s enthusiasts. “I was just out of my comfort zone, out of my league, out of my depth,” she stated.
Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, Doom proved to be a significant box office disappointment. It garnered a modest $58.7 million globally against a production budget that ranged from $60 million to $70 million. A subsequent direct-to-DVD release, Doom: Annihilation, followed in 2019. Bartkowiak, known for his cinematography on films like Terms of Endearment and Speed, had transitioned to directing action films in the early 2000s, with credits including Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, and Cradle 2 the Grave.
Pike herself did not shy away from criticising the film, branding Doom “an absolute bomb.” She elaborated, “I mean, I probably could have ended my career. It was just probably one of the worst films ever made. I mean, it was a catastrophe. You get the sense like you’re lucky to have survived that one.”
This candid reflection on Doom is not Pike’s only recollection of challenging experiences early in her career. She has previously spoken out about the unsettling audition process for the 2002 Bond film Die Another Day, where she played the role of Miranda Frost.
Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar UK, Pike revealed that she refused to undress during her audition for the part. “In the Bond audition, I was asked to unzip and drop the dress I was wearing, to just stand there in underwear,” Pike recounted. “And I thought, ‘Well, no, I’ll be doing that if I get the part. I won’t be doing that now.’ I don’t know what possessed me.” This assertive stance at a critical juncture of her career highlights Pike’s strong sense of self and her determination to navigate the industry on her own terms.
