"He is my guardian angel"— Elizabeth Banks recalls crew member saving her from "super scary" choking incident on set of upcoming thriller

Actress Elizabeth Banks recently opened up about her "terrifying" choking incident on the sets of her new film, Skincare. During her appearance on Good Morning America on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the 50-year-old explained she was in her trailer enjoying her lunch in solitude when she began choking on a "little green pea."

Recalling the ordeal, Banks elaborated that she was afraid and couldn't make any noise. The actress rushed to exit the trailer when a crew member spotted her and came to her rescue.

"I happened to see someone, who said, 'Are you choking?' And I gave him the sign, and he came over very calmly, I backed right into him and he gave me the Heimlich maneuver. He had to do it twice. It came loose," she explained.

"His name is Julius, and he is my guardian angel. Julius, I love you. He saved my life, literally, on the set."

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Since the incident, Elizabeth Banks has been encouraging people to learn how to do the Heimlich maneuver

While discussing the incident on GMA, the Pitch Perfect star explained that she has since used every opportunity she gets to tell people to learn how to do the Heimlich maneuver. The actress urged people to talk about it with their friends and families and even look up how-to videos online.

"I literally couldn’t breathe. It was super scary," Elizabeth Banks added.

Per the Cleveland Clinic, the Heimlich maneuver is a first-aid method to help someone who cannot breathe due to choking. However, if a person is able to speak, cough, or breathe, the maneuver should not be attempted. Additionally, if the person is unconscious, stop it immediately and start CPR.

The Cleveland Clinic adds that one of the most common complications of this first-aid technique is broken ribs. This has led to many being afraid to perform the Heimlich maneuver. However, Elizabeth Banks advised:

"A lot of people think (they're) going to crack a rib or hurt someone — they're dying, so crack their rib if you have to. I would have been fine with a cracked rib."

Banks also took time to promote her upcoming film, Skincare, during the interview.

Skincare is a crime thriller film directed by Austin Powers. It stars Elizabeth Banks, Luis Gerardo Mendez, Lewis Pullman, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, and Nathan Fillion. The film is loosely inspired by celebrity facialist Dawn DaLuise, who was accused of plotting to murder her rival, Gabriel Suarez.

The movie centers around famed aesthetician Hope Goldman (Banks), who is set to launch her skincare line. Suspecting sabotage, she seeks to uncover who is trying to ruin her reputation with the help of her new friend Jordan (Pullman). The film is set for an August 16 release.