It’s a unique scenario that is especially suited to Neeson’s talents as a latter-era action hero, with the Irish actor bringing the same vulnerability and everyman sensibility to the role that makes all his action-movie roles relatable to audiences. The actor’s approach to his work also extends to embracing the realism of the film itself, which writer/director Jonathan Hensleigh shot on actual ice roads covering the surface of the vast Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, using full-sized Kenworth 18-wheelers. But even Neeson admits that he felt more than a little leery during one scene in which his character is forced to jump into a hole that has emerged in the ice, plunging into the frigid waters below. “At one point something happens and I have to dive into this icy water, where the ice has been broken, to try and save someone,” says Neeson, careful not to give away too much of the plot. “We had dry suits on underneath our costumes, but no gloves, and we had to be under the surface of the water for a good 10 to 12 seconds, so that the level of the surface of the water was still, and then we break through it.” Still, while Neeson says that acting in real and even dangerous conditions is much different from working in a mostly digital environment — like, say, a Star Wars movie — he also concedes that every effort is made to minimize the risk and discomfort for him and the other cast members. “Listen, we’re actors,” he says. “100 yards away they built a hut. They had a huge hot tub. Once we completed the scene, we dashed over there and just dove into this hot water, costumes, everything on, the rest, and sat for 20 minutes.” Even with all that, the scene in question is definitely a striking, standout moment in the film. The cumulative effect of the ice, the big trucks, and the vast, windswept, palpably cold setting in which the film takes place go a long way toward making The Ice Road feel as realistic as possible, and it helps to have an actor who’s willing to take the plunge (pun intended) himself. We’ll have more with Liam Neeson later this week. The Ice Road premieres on Netflix this Friday (June 25).
