Jessica Alba is getting candid about one of her most uncomfortable moments on a major film set.
During an in-depth career conversation at the Red Sea Film Festival on Friday, the actor opened up about a particularly difficult scene from Tim Story’s 2005 Marvel adaptation of “Fantastic Four.”
And she didn’t hold back.
The scene in question? Her character Sue Storm reappearing completely naked over a bridge—a moment Alba now describes as her “least favorite” from the entire production.
A Scene She Dreaded for Weeks
Alba didn’t mince words when reflecting on the experience.
I thought that was awful. It was very humiliating in real life.
She explained that her personal values made the scene especially challenging to film.
I grew up with a pretty conservative family, and I am a pretty modest person. I dreaded that scene for weeks. I have a lot of whiplash from those days.
Despite this difficult memory, Alba maintains appreciation for other aspects of playing Sue Storm—particularly how the character challenged gender norms in superhero cinema at the time.
Why Sue Storm Mattered
Alba emphasized that beyond that uncomfortable scene, she genuinely loved portraying Storm.
She was a woman I looked up to. She was very maternal and very kind, but also not a pushover; she spoke her mind. She had a great moral compass. No matter who you are, you can look up to her.
The actor highlighted how Sue Storm broke away from tired tropes that dominated action films two decades ago.
Oftentimes, the women in these stories need to be saved by a guy or the villain, the problem in the story. This was back then. It’s different now.
On Vanessa Kirby’s New Take
When asked about Vanessa Kirby’s recent interpretation of Sue Storm in “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” Alba admitted she hasn’t watched it yet.
But there’s a very relatable reason why.
I usually watch those movies with my kids, and if ‘Sonic’ was out, my son wants to watch it 85 times in a row. When it comes to movies that are for the family, my kids dominate what we watch for sure. But I have to convince him because we have to see it! I love Marvel, and they’re so fun.
New Projects on the Horizon
Alba isn’t dwelling on the past—she’s actively building her future in entertainment.
She revealed she’s pitching a new film with Robert Rodríguez, her collaborator from “Sin City” and “Machete.”
We’re putting together a really fun action movie, like a family dramedy inside a heist movie. We’re pitching that now to studios. It’s going to be really fun.
The project will feature an all-Latino cast, reflecting Alba’s commitment to diverse storytelling.
She’s also working with acclaimed Saudi Arabian director Haifaa al-Mansour on what she describes as “a really tender and beautiful story” about an aging parent and daughter.
Additionally, Alba will star in Dakota Johnson’s directorial debut “A Tree Is Blue” alongside Charli XCX and Vanessa Burghardt.
It’s about a mom and a daughter who wants her independence.
Lady Metalmark Entertainment: Changing the Narrative
Alba has recently launched Lady Metalmark Entertainment, her production label focused on diversifying storytelling in Hollywood.
Her goal? To “change minds” when it comes to representation on screen.
Growing up, I didn’t see a lot of diversity in storytelling.
But Alba is careful not to place blame without context.
When you have a lot of white guys in charge, they feel most comfortable telling stories through their lens. They don’t know you. They didn’t grow up with a woman who grew up like me. Frankly, many of them didn’t have women [in their lives] who were strong, not just running the household but making an income.
The Business Case for Better Representation
Alba isn’t just making moral arguments—she’s highlighting economic realities that entertainment executives should consider.
Women control over 70% of household income, she pointed out, which should make them a priority for decision-makers in entertainment.
I believe we need to have entertainment that speaks to us. Just because a woman is a lead and a powerful person who can think for herself, it doesn’t mean it’s not for men. Maybe we should have a little less of women who need to be saved all the time.
She also emphasized Latino audiences’ outsized consumption of entertainment.
In our country in particular, the Latino audience loves entertainment; we watch it more than any other group of people.
Breaking Stereotypes in Latino Storytelling
Alba expressed frustration with how Latino stories are still limited by narrow perspectives in Hollywood.
There are a lot of stigmas and stereotypes. They love to tell stories about cartels, drugs, and domestic workers. We are a lot more than that.
She sees her role as a producer as essential to expanding those narratives.
If that’s the only way they see us, it’s very difficult for them to change their minds. It takes people like me in a position as a producer to support filmmakers who look like me to be able to tell really authentic human stories.
Alba’s journey from uncomfortable superhero scenes to producing authentic, diverse stories shows how far she’s come—and where she’s determined to take Hollywood next.