Adam Pearson reveals he was hit by car on way to Under the Skin audition
Pearson’s stroke of bad luck might have helped him win role opposite Scarlett Johansson
Adam Pearson has had quite a career since being cast by Jonathan Glazer in Under the Skin – but his journey to the role had a painful beginning.
The actor and disability rights activist made a brief but memorable appearance opposite Scarlett Johansson in the 2013 sci-fi horror. However, on his way to a meeting with Glazer before being cast, Pearson was hit by a car.
Pearson recalled the incident in a Q&A interview with The Independent at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), revealing that he had only just one road to cross as he worked across the road from where the meeting was set.
“Child’s play, you’d think – but I get hit by a car and break my leg,” he said. “The adrenaline kicks in and I call him like, ‘Funny story, I think my leg’s broken, but I’m still really keen. I’m just gonna be 10 minutes late.’”
Ten minutes later, Glazer finds Pearson lying under a taxi and on morphine to reduce the pain.
The next day, Glazer visited him in hospital and offered him the role. Pearson quipped: “I knew a couple other lads were in the mix and I was like, ‘What did you do where you didn’t get the role?!”
Pearson has neurofibromatosis and used to work as a researcher on shows including The Undateables. Since appearing in Under the Skin, he’s become a prominent figure and advocate for disability rights and, in 2024, starred opposite Sebastian Stan in dark comedy A Different Man.
He received acclaim for the film, which he said left him feeling like he had imposter syndrome.
Next up, Pearson takes centre stage in Zero Intention of Living Quietly, from director Edward Lovelace, which chronicles his journey to transform his love of movies into a career on screen while living with neurofibromatosis.
As well as Pearson, Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding and Ali & Ava star Claire Rushbrook took part in Q&As to discuss their work as part of the wider programme of screenings and cultural events curated to spark conversation and spotlight creative expression and ideas that challenge convention.
