Robert Redford insisted that he wanted to do as many stunts as possible on All Is Lost.
Redford will be back on the big screen on Boxing Day as he teams up with director J.C. Chandor.
All Is Lost sees Redford give a solo performance as he battles for survival when he becomes stranded at sea.
Speaking to The Telegraph the actor said: "They beat me up pretty badly. I met J.C. and told him, 'What's in this script is pretty rough and tumble', and he said, 'I don't plan to have you do all that.
"I have stunt doubles.' So I said, 'I'd rather not have doubles if I can help it.'
"My ego kicked in and I thought, 'OK, maybe I can. Let's see.' Next thing you know, I was being washed overboard and underwater and bounced around.
"But that was a challenge: could I physically do it? It was difficult, painfully difficult sometimes. But it was worth it."
Redford is already being tipped as a possible Best Actor Oscar contender for her performance in the film; some critics are calling it one of the performances of his career.
We will be seeing Redford back on the big screen next year with Captain America: The Winter Solider as he joins the cast as new character Alexander Pierce.
All Is Lost is released 26th December.
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