neve campbell

Neve Campbell says she was attacked by a bear on set as a teenager

The 'Scream' star opened up about the experience to Kelly Clarkson this week

Digital Director for Hello! CanadaToronto
January 13, 2022

Hollywood stars have to do all sorts of things on set, and many do their own stunts. Animals being involved isn't unusual, either. But Neve Campbell shocked Kelly Clarkson this week when she told her about something she said happened to her while filming as a teenager. 

The 48-year-old star, best known for her role in the Scream franchise, told the American Idol winner she was attacked on set by a bear when she was just 17 years old.

And yes, if you're wondering, it happened in Canada. (Unsurprisingly, Kelly immediately asked that.)

"It's not like when we were camping or anything," Neve said Kelly's talk show on Jan. 13. 

The mom of two said the crew told her to give the bear a pop, put her hand in some honey and run away, then turn around, stick out her hand, and feed the bear when she was behind a nearby tree. The goal, Neve explained, was for her to be "one with the animals" in the role. 

"I was like, 'OK,'" she said, adding she wanted to "please everyone" at the time. "And I dip my hand in one and run to this rock. I turn around and put my hand out and the bear is not slowing down, and he grabs me by the leg and pulls me through the forest. 

Neve with Courteney Cox and David Arquette at the premiere of Scream 4 in 2011. They're reprising their roles in the new Scream film that's out Jan. 14. Photo: © John Shearer/WireImage

"My mother happens to be visiting set and so she's screaming, and everyone on set froze, because no one knows what's happening. All I can think to say is, 'He's biting me,' like it wasn't obvious." 

Luckily, she said one of the animal wranglers began throwing rocks at the bear, which then became angry and left Neve alone. 

If you were thinking there was no way on Earth Neve would want to do that again, she responded by saying, "No! That was rehearsal! We didn't get it on camera! Let's do it [again]!" when she was told they were scrapping that entirely from the film. 

"Actors are so different from musicians!" Kelly hilariously quipped in response. "I can't express this enough. Like, literally, if I was in a music video and that went down, I would be like, 'Bye!'"

"So would I, now!" Neve responded, saying now that she's "old" there's no way she would have agreed. 

Neve is set to star in another instalment of the Scream franchise. It's a sequel to Scream 4, and also features the returns of Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Skeet Ulrich, known for their roles in some of the previous films. It's out Jan. 14! 

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