AceShowbiz - Doom star Rosamund Pike has revealed that her role in the 2005 sci-fi action film, where she starred alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, almost derailed her acting career. The film, an adaptation of the popular video game, was a commercial and critical failure that left her questioning her future in Hollywood.

In an interview on the How to Fail With Elizabeth Day podcast, Pike recounted how she was filming Pride & Prejudice and enjoying a very different type of role when she was suddenly offered a part in an action franchise. The movie was not anything like a Minecraft or Lara Croft adaptation, as her original co-star, Ray Winstone, had dropped out, leading to Johnson joining the cast.

Meeting Johnson on set, Pike quickly realized she was out of her depth. "There were people pepping him up, weights on the set, and every time a gun was brought out, it was treated like a holy relic for fans of Doom," she explained. She felt completely unprepared for the physical demands and atmosphere of an action film, describing the experience as being "out of her comfort zone, out of her league."

The film’s failure was a heavy blow. Pike admitted that Doom could have been career-ending, especially after her high-profile role as a Bond girl in 2002’s Die Another Day. She called the movie "probably one of the worst films ever made" and a "catastrophe." Although she typically avoids reading reviews, she acknowledged the film’s poor reception and how lucky she felt to have survived its fallout.

Despite the setbacks from Doom, both Pike and Johnson went on to have successful careers. However, the experience taught her to be much more discerning about future roles. She admitted she did not understand enough about video games and was not the right fit for an action star role at that time. She also rejected the pressure to be the stereotypical "bombshell sex symbol" expected of female action leads in those days, stating, "I just wasn’t that person."

Pike was candid about her insecurities during the filming, especially regarding her physical appearance. She shared how if an action film bombs, female actors often internalize it as a failure to look attractive enough on screen. She confessed, "I didn’t get that or take it seriously or work out for the gym body that a better female action star would have done." This reflection highlighted the intense, often unfair expectations placed on women in action films.

Ultimately, Pike views the Doom experience as a pivotal lesson in her career. It underscored the importance of thoroughly researching roles before accepting them and recognizing when a project might not align with her strengths or values. While Doom was a setback, it did not define her career, allowing her to grow and choose projects better suited to her talents.

Today, Rosamund Pike continues to be recognized for her versatility and critical successes, proving that even a major misstep like Doom can be overcome with resilience and self-awareness.