Ana de Armas couldn't run or walk more than three steps due to severe asthma as a child

Ana de Armas is quickly becoming one of Hollywood's most recognisable action stars, but looking back at her childhood, it's clear to see why this transition seemed virtually impossible.

The 34-year-old is starring opposite Chris Evans in Apple TV's new action rom-com, Ghosted.

When Cole (Evans) falls head over heels for art curator Sadia (de Armas) they go on a whirlwind date, but he soon discovers that she’s a secret agent. Before they can decide on a second meet-up, Cole and Sadie are swept away on an international adventure filled with espionage, car chases and violence to save the world.

While Evans, 41, is used to going through gruelling training regimes when he starred in Marvel films such as Captain America, he was very pleased this time around because he got to take a ‘back seat’ on Ghosted since de Armas is the hero.

“The first scene we shot was in the cave, and I literally had zero training on this movie, I didn’t need any,” the Avengers star revealed. “My character goes to pieces every time action happens and the first action sequence, I watched Ana beat up like five guys with flips and spins and kicks I was [like] ‘You’ve been training, I haven’t been!’ Ana worked really hard on this one, luckily I got to take a back seat.”

Apple TV+

He was very impressed with the No Time to Die actress, who reflected on having ‘really bad asthma’ growing up, which makes her current stint as an action film hero all the more surprising.

“I had to go through some training and honestly, in the moment it’s exhausting and it’s painful and you’re hurting everywhere but it's so rewarding too because when it works and when you see it on camera, when everything is happening on the day, it just feels really good and it was fun action,” the Academy Award-nominated actress tells UNILAD about training for Ghosted.

After playing a Bond Girl to playing a CIA agent in Ghosted, de Armas’ next project will see her take on the main role in the hotly anticipated John Wick spin-off, Ballerina, which will be released on 7 June 2024.

UNILAD

Training has already begun, which the Cuban actress says is ‘another level’. She says: “In Bond, I only had 15 minutes screen time but in Ghosted, the training was, of course a little bit more intense and in Ballerina, I’m telling you it’s another level.

“I grew up having really bad asthma when I was a kid - I could not take three steps and not be able to breathe - so for me, I was the opposite of athletic and someone who could not move and run or do anything. So it’s been a big change, discovery of me to see that I am able to do all of this and it’s been great.”

Ghosted is the third film Evans and de Armas have worked on together after Knives Out and The Grey Man, and if they have a say in the matter, there will be more.

The Lightyear star said: “Look, I’m a firm believer of when you work with people you like and you have a good experience making it and it ends up being a good film - I love going back to familiar relationships. It’s just… why not? Life is too short to work with jerks and if you know you have a good dynamic with someone, why not revisit it. As actors you get to wear a bunch of different hats and try and explore different genres and why not with the people you know.”

Ghosted will stream globally on Apple TV+ from Friday 21 April, 2023.