10 Movie Moments More Terrifying When You Know The Truth

A few months after the eventual Oscar-winner that was Gladiator released in theatres, Russell Crowe could be found taking on another challenge in the form of action thriller Proof of Life. And it was during the filming of a gripping set-piece involving a helicopter for that flick that the star picked up some of his many movie-making scars.

As the star would recall to Nova's Chrissie, Sammy & Browny (via DailyMail) when talking about his "stupidest" stunt to date:

"Right at the beginning of the film there's a sequence where I run up to this helicopter and I jump onto it and it takes off so I actually did that."

Crowe was then pulled up to 100ft into the air, with only "a good grip on the strap" keeping him from legitimately falling to his death.

And making matters even more terrifying than they may seem in the finished film, the pilot was actually told to "go harder" in one take, a decision that saw the 'copter bank hard over a field playing host to an explosion that went off in the star's face.

Despite getting "20 cuts" across his mug, Crowe still clung on with all he could, with his unbreakable grip once again stopping him from biting the dust whilst shooting the largely forgotten flick.

But maybe opt for the harness and safety wire next time, Russ? Or leave it to the pros, eh.