Jodie Turner-Smith Talks Filming ‘Without Remorse’ While Pregnant and Starring Opposite Michael B. Jordan

The premiere date for Paramount Pictures’ upcoming film Without Remorse is fast approaching.

Based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Tom Clancy, this action-packed experience stars Michael B. Jordan, Lauren London, and Jodie Turner-Smith. It already sounds like a hit if you ask me!

Earlier this month, the cast and director, Stefano Sollima, held a virtual press conference where they spoke about the film and what it took to finally bring it before the audience.

In that conversation, Smith reflected on her unique experience of working on set while carrying her first child.

In Without Remorse, Smith plays a Navy Seal Lieutenant, Karen Greer. She is a fierce patriot, she is assertive, and she cares deeply about her team. That includes her very close friend and fellow Seal, John Clark (played by Michael B. Jordan).

Their friendship is tested when Clark’s pregnant wife Pam (Lauren London) is killed, and the soldier goes on a one-man mission to avenge her death. Greer and Clark eventually team up to find those responsible, only to uncover a much greater agenda behind Pam’s murder.

During the virtual press conference, Smith spoke candidly about filming an action movie while being pregnant with her first child.

“First of all, I was pregnant at the time. So that definitely added a level of intensity to it that I, myself, didn’t even anticipate.” She shared, “Nobody really tells you what your body is going through, and it’s funny because I’ve trained for many things in my life, but what was required of me physically with carrying a baby during this film was unlike anything that I’ve ever experienced.”

“So much of my time on set was spent having to give back to my body and nurture it as best as I could because I was definitely doing the most by doing an action film. It’s really scary to do something when you are pregnant like that, and I didn’t even understand that it would feel that way. Obviously, I made the decision before I was very pregnant, and I had no real concept of what would be required of my physical body. So I spent a lot of time talking to my body, talking to my baby. Cause, yeah, it’s nerve-racking,” Smith said.

One thing the pregnant star was craving the most on set was dumplings.

“There [were] so many times I would be like calling my husband shortly before wrap, like “You need to go get the dumplings. They need to be waiting for me when I get home.”

Speaking of Smith’s husband, actor Joshua Jackson (Dawson’s Creek, The Affair) was very supportive of his wife’s decision to fulfill this project while carrying their daughter.

“He was with me the entire time I was filming,” Smith recalls, “I think that was definitely a function of him being like “she’s probably being a little crazy by doing this, but I’m not gonna say that. I’m just gonna make sure I’m right here to support her in case she needs anything.”

Playing Lieutenant Commander Karen Greer was special for Smith because of what she represents. “I relish the opportunity to play a strong Black woman on the screen, so I just love that about her,” Smith told HM, “I feel like she has this no-nonsense energy and this fierce loyalty to her friend. But even in being loyal to her friend, she is not just going to go along with everything he is doing. She feels that if he is out of line and if he is not his best self, she’s gonna say that. Because she loves him.”

Watch Jodie Turner-Smith play a badass soldier in Without Remorse on April 30 exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.