In the 2025 edition of the BBC’s “Lives Well Lived” program, Kirsty Wark looks back at the extraordinary lives of some of the legendary actors, celebrated singers and political giants who died in 2025.
Commemorating the life and career of Gene Hackman, Sarah Douglas spoke about her time working with him on the movie “Superman II”.
While his character, Lex Luthor, was busy demanding Australia and beachfront property, the actress recalls that Gene Hackman was an “affable uncle” who was not intimidating at all.
Despite his friendly nature, working with Hackman was a challenge for the trio of Kryptonian villains. They were required to maintain a strict “poker face,” but Hackman—always well-prepared—would often “pull little things out of the bag” that were completely unexpected.
One particularly cheeky moment occurred during a high-stakes scene in the White House. While the actress was meant to be crushing Lex Luthor’s hand, Hackman decided to stir the pot. “He’d actually got his hand on top of mine and he was gently just tickling the side of my hand,” she revealed. This led to a “slight smirk” on her face that was “absolutely not to be done” for her character.
Beyond the set antics, Hackman offered sage advice, pointing out that regardless of the film—whether it was an A-list production or a “B-movie”—it was essential to remain prepared and give your all to every project.
The actress concluded by remembering Hackman with “great affection” and “great warmth,” describing him as a “consummate professional” and an absolute delight to be around every single day.
