Taron Egerton considered getting a real neck tattoo inspired by his role in the upcoming film She Rides Shotgun, but his plans changed abruptly when his mother visited the movie set. The actor’s experience highlights the clash between parental concerns and personal expression, especially when it comes to tattoos.
Fake Tattoos Lead to Real Tattoo Contemplation
In She Rides Shotgun, Egerton plays Nate, an ex-con marked for death who sports various fake tattoos, including a distinctive chili pepper behind his ear. Throughout filming in New Mexico, he regularly applied the temporary tattoos, enjoying the tough persona they helped create.
“Applied daily, took about an hour,”
Egerton explained during his interview with Seth Meyers.
“I quite enjoyed it. Made me feel very tough.”
The connection to the role was so strong that Egerton seriously considered making one of the tattoos permanent as a tribute to his experience on set.
Plans to Ink a Real Tattoo Are Suddenly Halted
Egerton revealed he had even booked an appointment with a local tattoo artist arranged by the movie’s makeup team, aiming to get the chili pepper tattoo on his neck after the final day of shooting.
“I actually nearly did a crazy thing,”
he admitted.
“I was all ready and booked to get that tattooed on my head on the last day of the shoot, in that spot. I don’t know what earth I was thinking actually, but I really was ready to do it.”
However, things took a sudden turn when Egerton’s mom unexpectedly showed up on set on the last day. He explained,
“The makeup artist had set it up about halfway through the day, and she said, ‘You’re all set for this evening.’ And I just panicked immediately.”
Mother’s Visit Leads to Immediate Cancellation
As Egerton braced himself for his mother’s reaction, he found himself stiffening from the pressure.
“My mom went, ‘I beg your pardon?’”
he recounted.
“And I went, ‘Well, I’m going to get this tattoo. I’ve had a really good, really spiritual [time], Mom. I want to commemorate it.’ And she did this classic mom thing where she was looking at me and she just [turned away].”
Faced with his mother’s disapproval, Egerton quickly backed out of the idea, saying to the audience, “Panicked, and canceled it immediately.”
About She Rides Shotgun and Its Release
Egerton stars alongside Ana Sophia Heger in the gritty action thriller directed by Nick Rowland. The film is based on the book by Jordan Harper and follows Nate, the newly released ex-con who must protect his estranged 11-year-old daughter, Polly, from a corrupt sheriff and a violent gang. She Rides Shotgun opens in theaters this Friday, promising an intense story of survival and redemption.
