The actor says a popular Hollywood fitness trick backfired while filming an awkward scene with Florence Pugh in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, leaving him uncomfortable rather than camera-ready.
Tom Holland Opens Up About Challenging Scene
Tom Holland has shared a humorous behind-the-scenes story from the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, revealing that one particular scene left him feeling “really grumpy” instead of looking his best on screen.
Speaking about the experience, Holland admitted that he tried a common fitness technique used by some actors before filming shirtless scenes. However, rather than achieving the desired result, he said the process only affected his mood.
Dehydration Trick Didn’t Work
The scene in question was a shirtless sequence filmed alongside Florence Pugh, who portrays **Yelena Belova> in the movie.
According to Holland, he deliberately stopped drinking water before filming and later consumed a large amount, hoping the temporary dehydration would make his muscles appear more defined on camera.
Looking back, the actor said the effort was not worthwhile.
He explained that instead of improving his appearance, the routine simply left him feeling irritable, adding that he believes it made little to no noticeable difference in how he ultimately looked in the finished scene.
An Awkward Bathhouse Sequence
The sequence takes place in a Russian bathhouse, where Peter Parker visits Yelena Belova in search of answers about the threat he is facing.
Before speaking with him, Yelena instructs Peter to remove anything he could be concealing. The moment leaves the superhero wearing only his underwear while still keeping his iconic Spider-Man mask on, creating an intentionally awkward and comedic scene.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ earns historic Rotten Tomatoes milestone ahead of release
Florence Pugh Helped Ease the Atmosphere
Despite feeling uncomfortable during filming, Holland praised Florence Pugh for making the experience much more enjoyable.
He said the actress kept the cast and crew laughing throughout the shoot, helping everyone feel more relaxed during what could have been an awkward day on set.
Holland also noted that his fellow cast members Zendaya and Jacob Batalon were not present during the filming of that particular scene.
Film Released in Late July
Spider-Man: Brand New Day was released in theaters on July 31, 2026, marking the latest installment in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man franchise.
Holland’s behind-the-scenes anecdote offers fans a light-hearted glimpse into the lengths actors sometimes go to in preparation for physically demanding scenes—and how those efforts do not always produce the expected results.
