10 Actors Who Stormed Off Movie & TV Sets (And Why)
2. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Is Done With James Cameron - The Abyss
Known for driving both his actors and crew members around the bend almost as much as he is for bringing some of the most iconic features in moviemaking history into existence, James Cameron clearly just doesn't seem to mix very well with, you know, humans.
Adding to his infamous on set legacy, with his angering of Aliens' British film crew very nearly derailing that film entirely, the director also massively clashed with his performers during the making of 1989's The Abyss.
And while Ed Harris somehow found a way to soldier on despite nearly being drowned and decking his director for his recklessness, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio simply felt that it was time to call it a day on the back of a CPR scene that went too far.
With the actor being repeatedly slapped in the scene that saw Harris screaming "Fight!" and Cameron demanding numerous takes, a malfunctioning camera was the last straw for Mastrantonio. Before long she'd stormed off the hellacious shoot and blasted the director, claiming "We are not animals!" as she refused to return to finish the scene.
Which also explains why Harris' performance became much of the focus in the end product.