Even Hollywood veterans aren’t immune to a little on-set embarrassment. In a recent reflection on the making of Marvel Studios’ Eternals, Angelina Jolie admitted there was a moment during filming so awkward that she “wanted to hide under the dirt.”
The confession takes fans back to the 2019-2020 production of the 2021 superhero epic, directed by Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao. Despite the film’s galactic scope, much of its energy came from intimate, character-driven scenes — and occasionally, unexpected moments that left its A-list cast blushing.
The Scene That Sparked the Cringe
Jolie, who portrayed the fierce Eternal warrior Thena, shared the screen with Salma Hayek, who played Ajak, the team’s wise leader. The two actresses became fast friends on set, but even their chemistry couldn’t save everyone from a few mortifying moments.
One particularly memorable example came courtesy of their younger co-star Lia McHugh, who played the illusion-casting Eternal, Sprite. McHugh once described filming a deleted scene that left the entire cast — Jolie included — wishing they could vanish.
The scene took place aboard the Eternals’ private jet and featured Sprite performing karaoke, singing an intentionally off-key version of Skeeter Davis’s 1962 country classic “The End of the World.” McHugh said she was asked to make it “as awkward as possible,” a request she fulfilled a little too well.
The cringe-inducing performance, aimed at injecting levity into the otherwise serious tone of the film, reportedly caused everyone on set to squirm — including Jolie, who later admitted that the secondhand embarrassment made her want to disappear. The scene was ultimately cut from the final theatrical release, but its legacy as one of the most uncomfortable moments in the film’s production has endured among the cast.
Eternals: A Risk-Taking Marvel Experiment
Released in November 2021, Eternals marked a major creative shift for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Under Zhao’s direction, the film adopted a more poetic tone, using natural lighting, on-location shoots, and a diverse ensemble cast to explore themes of immortality and humanity.
While reviews were mixed, the film became a commercial success, grossing over $400 million worldwide and standing out as one of the boldest visual entries in Marvel’s Phase Four.
Beyond the box office, Eternals also cemented a lasting friendship between its two marquee stars. Hayek and Jolie — both veterans of global cinema — spoke often about how their characters’ deep mutual respect on screen mirrored their real-life bond.
A Reminder That Even Heroes Have Human Moments
The “hide under the dirt” story may have stemmed from a humorous production mishap, but it reflects the very human side of filmmaking. Even in a world filled with gods, galaxies, and CGI wonders, actors like Jolie and Hayek find themselves caught in moments of pure, relatable embarrassment.
In the end, it’s a reminder that even superheroes — and the stars who play them — occasionally need to laugh at themselves. And as Jolie’s story proves, sometimes the most unforgettable moments on set aren’t in the script at all.
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