Evan Peters stopped by Conan on Tuesday and highlighted the true peril of being an actor with his story about giving Jessica Lange a free show during American Horror Story. Now most will be interested in Peters talking about being naked a lot and constantly saying the word “c*ck” on the air, but past that, it shows the hazards that come with acting.
Now accidentally blasting a legendary actress with your private bits is far down on the list of hazards an actor can face, but it’s one that probably happens more frequently than you’d think. It’s no dangerous stunt dive from the top of a building or chilling dip in a frozen lake while filming what is supposed to be a summertime scene, but it’s trouble. You can always be bopped in the head with a piece of scaffolding or get your hand caught in a car door, but most actors know it is just part of the job. Peters has talked about this in the past during a chat with Vulture in 2012:
What was it like having Jessica Lange whip your bare bottom?That was literally the first day of shooting. It’s embarrassing that I’m telling you this, but why not? I had to wear a cock sock, right? And since I was wearing a hospital gown, I thought, Well, my front’s not going to be showing. It’s not a big deal. And when they bent me over [laughs], they could see my balls hanging down from the other side. The first day of shooting, and I flash Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson my balls. Welcome to American Horror Story. It was ridiculous. I have to put on a cock sock and sheath my balls.
So you got really comfortable really quickly then.
Once someone’s seen your balls, it’s over. It’s fine. Everything’s good. They didn’t even say anything. Sarah just walked over after that take and kissed me on the cheek. I was like, Why? What’s happening? That’s when I realized. I was mortified.
Lange seemed to handle this like a pro, despite complaining about having Peters’ testicles in her face the entire time. It’s no getting your hand sewn to a prosthetic like Ving Rhames in Dawn Of The Dead, but it’s trouble. And like pros, Rhames and Lange didn’t say anything until the takes were finished.
