Kristen Bell Recounts Rough-Water Scare on Netflix Set

Kristen Bell says a beach shoot for Season 3 of Nobody Wants This turned frightening when powerful waves overwhelmed the cast and crew’s carefully planned setup. The actress described the incident during an Armchair Expert conversation with co-stars Adam Brody, Justine Lupe and Timothy Simons.

A difficult scene in the surf

Bell said the production sent her into cold water with roughly nine or 10 crew members while stunt professionals paired with each person for support. She wore a partial scuba suit beneath her costume and walked into water that reached about chest level. The conditions then became far more chaotic than the scene had apparently anticipated.

According to Bell’s account, large waves knocked equipment underwater and forced stunt workers to brace crew members against the sand. She said two stunt performers lifted her as one wave broke, while a camera operator was repeatedly hit by the surf. Bell characterized the episode as a near-death experience, though that description is her personal account rather than an official safety finding.

The first attempt did not produce the required shot, so the sequence had to be repeated. Bell said she warned that someone could be swept away and tried to limit how long she remained in the water during the next take. The production ultimately completed the scene, and she later said the finished result looked effective.

What viewers will see

Bell suggested the sequence will appear mainly from a side angle because the front view captured how severe the conditions looked. Her story offers an unusually candid glimpse at the physical work behind a romantic comedy that is better known for dialogue, relationships and character-driven humor.

In the Netflix series, Bell plays Joanne, a podcaster whose relationship with rabbi Noah, played by Brody, drives the show. The water sequence belongs to the upcoming third season. Bell did not identify a lasting injury from the incident in the conversation, but her account highlights how quickly an outdoor shoot can change when weather and water do not cooperate with the production plan.