Mainland Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming recently revealed in a variety show that over a decade ago, while filming the martial arts movie “The Bride with White Hair 2: Moonlit Kingdom,” a high-altitude action scene went awry. The wire he was suspended by suddenly snapped, causing him to plummet from a height of nearly two stories, resulting in six broken bones in his foot. The serious aftermath of this accident still affects him to this day.
During a break in recording the variety show, Huang Xiaoming and several guests went for foot massages as part of their relaxation routine. What was intended as a simple stress-relief activity took an unexpected turn when the masseuse unknowingly touched upon Huang’s old injury. Mentioning his foot surgery, the masseuse struck a chord with Huang, who simply nodded in acknowledgment.
Reflecting on the filming of “The Bride with White Hair 2: Moonlit Kingdom,” Huang Xiaoming recalled the incident from 2014 where a wire and steel structure was used for high-altitude action scenes. The risks were extremely high if there was any wear and tear on the wire that went unnoticed. Unfortunately, the accident occurred just at that moment – as he fell heavily from the approximately two-story-high wire, his foot endured a massive impact, resulting in six fractured bones, akin to a shattered bone fracture.
Following the accident, Huang Xiaoming’s foot was fixed with six steel screws, with his left foot even suffering from toe shattering fractures. Eager not to disrupt filming schedules, he returned to work after a recovery period of about 40 days, but ultimately, the injury left irreversible consequences. He described how, now, after walking for a while, his foot would experience intense pain. Additionally, due to tissue proliferation, the height of his foot arch is noticeably higher than the average person. If the interior space of a shoe is inadequate, he said, “my foot can’t even fit in.”
In fact, Huang Xiaoming later mentioned this experience in a public setting. It was his candid account that brought attention to safety issues, prompting many production crews to upgrade to safer climbing ropes instead of wires. Huang Xiaoming wryly noted that he is perhaps a “negative example bought with blood,” inadvertently driving the enhancement of safety measures in filming.
After this behind-the-scenes revelation came to light, netizens were quick to discuss and empathize, expressing sentiments like “just hearing about it feels painful” and “sending chills down the spine.” Many online users lamented the risks actors endure for the sake of their craft, risks far beyond what the general public imagines.