In a recent revelation, “Prison Break” star Sarah Wayne Callies has opened up about a disturbing incident that occurred on the set of the popular TV series. Callies, who portrayed Dr. Sara Tancredi on the FOX show, shared her experience during an appearance on the “Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen” podcast. The actress disclosed that she was spat on by a male co-star, highlighting the rampant misogyny she faced while working on the show.
Callies, who has recently started a podcast with her former co-star Paul Adelstein, where they re-watch and reflect on every “Prison Break” episode, spoke candidly about the toxic environment she endured. The show, which aired for five seasons from 2005 to 2017, was a significant part of her career, but it also came with its share of challenges.
Reflecting on her time on the show, Callies admitted that it was difficult to revisit that period of her life due to the toxic and painful experiences she encountered. “I couldn’t get beyond the parts that were toxic and painful,” she explained. However, she also acknowledged the opportunities that “Prison Break” and her subsequent role on “The Walking Dead” provided her in her career.
Rampant Misogyny on Set
Callies described the environment on the “Prison Break” set as one of “rampant misogyny.” She was often the only woman on set, surrounded by a predominantly male cast and crew. The prison drama followed the story of brothers Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) and Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), with a supporting cast that included Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Wade Williams, Rockmond Dunbar, and Adelstein.
“There were two edges to that sword,” Callies said, referring to the challenges of being the only woman on set. She recounted a particularly distressing incident where a male co-star spat in her face. “I’ve had an actor on that show spit in my face. And I was like, ‘Holy s—.’ And like we will get there on the podcast. We will talk about it someday,” she revealed, without naming the co-star involved.
The actress also shared that the environment on set was so bad that her husband wanted to intervene. “There were things, like I would go home some nights and have to spend an hour talking my husband out of going to hospitalize somebody,” she said. Despite the challenges, Callies expressed gratitude for her career and the opportunities it has provided her.
Mixed Experiences and Lifelong Friendships
While Callies faced significant challenges on the “Prison Break” set, she also acknowledged that not all her experiences were negative. “Some of the guys were great, and some of them were totally gentlemen,” she said. The actress emphasized that the sudden rise to fame for many of the actors on the show often led to chaos and ego clashes.
Callies admitted that she initially hesitated to rewatch the show because she feared it would bring back painful memories. “I wasn’t ready to look at it… for exactly that reason. Because I didn’t want it to send me into a spiral of like, ‘What did I let them do to me? What did I let them say to me? What did I put up with? What did I not report?'” she explained.
Despite the challenges, Callies also made lifelong friends on the set of “Prison Break.” She described the experience as a mixed bag, with both positive and negative aspects. “So much of it was also great and made lifelong friends and all the things,” she said.
Future Revelations on the Podcast
Callies promised fans that she would elaborate further on the incident and other experiences on her “Prison Breaking” podcast with Paul Adelstein. The podcast provides a platform for the actors to reflect on their time on the show and share behind-the-scenes stories with their audience.
The actress’s revelations have shed light on the challenges faced by women in the entertainment industry, particularly in male-dominated environments. Callies’s candidness about her experiences serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing and combating misogyny in all workplaces.
FAQs
1. Who is Sarah Wayne Callies?
Sarah Wayne Callies is an actress known for her roles in “Prison Break” as Dr. Sara Tancredi and “The Walking Dead” as Lori Grimes. She has also appeared in other TV shows and films and has recently ventured into directing and podcasting.
2. What did Sarah Wayne Callies reveal about her time on “Prison Break”?
Callies revealed that she faced rampant misogyny on the set of “Prison Break” and recounted a disturbing incident where a male co-star spat in her face. She also shared that the toxic environment made it difficult for her to revisit that period of her life.
3. Did Sarah Wayne Callies name the co-star who spat on her?
No, Callies did not name the co-star involved in the incident. She mentioned that she would discuss the incident further on her “Prison Breaking” podcast with Paul Adelstein.
4. How did Sarah Wayne Callies’s husband react to her experiences on set?
Callies shared that her husband was very supportive and wanted to intervene on several occasions. She often had to spend time talking him out of taking action against those who mistreated her on set.
5. What is the “Prison Breaking” podcast?
The “Prison Breaking” podcast is a show hosted by Sarah Wayne Callies and her former “Prison Break” co-star Paul Adelstein. In the podcast, they re-watch and reflect on every episode of “Prison Break,” sharing behind-the-scenes stories and their experiences on set.
