Kevin Costner shares health struggles during ‘Hidden Figures’ filming: “worked 10 days with an IV Drip”

Kevin Costner revealed that he faced significant health challenges while filming his role as Al Harrison in the 2016 movie Hidden Figures. Despite his illness, he continued working without missing a single day on set. Costner shared that he worked for ten days under an IV drip due to kidney stones but remained committed to his role in the biographical drama.

Costner explained, "I’ve never worked drunk on a set.I’ve never worked high on a set, but I was on morphine for the last two weeks that I worked on Hidden Figures." He added that for the first few days, he felt normal, but then his condition worsened. He managed to perform his scenes while hooked up to a morphine drip in his trailer between takes. Costner had to roll down his sleeves to cover the bruising from the IV, saying, "Eventually I had to. I wanted to cry, but there was everybody watching, so I didn’t."
Reflecting on the experience, Costner praised the film’s director, Theodore Melfi, and enjoyed reuniting with Octavia Spencer, his co-star from Black or White (2014). He described working on Hidden Figures as "magic."
Hidden Figures is based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly and stars Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, and Janelle Monáe as Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Goble Johnson, and Mary Jackson, respectively. These three African-American mathematicians played crucial roles in NASA’s efforts during the Space Race. Spencer's performance earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at both the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes, while the film itself was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

Costner's role in Hidden Figures required immense dedication, especially given his health issues during the shoot. Despite being on morphine and needing an IV drip, he did not let his condition affect his performance or his commitment to the film. His story is a testament to his professionalism and dedication as an actor.