SA beauty hurt in action movie

LOCAL beauty Tanit Phoenix ended up in hospital after spraining her ankle while filming a fight scene for an action movie.

Seven imported cars have also been wrecked or blown to smithereens in chase sequences for Death Race 3 filmed over the past month around Cape Town.

The movie chronicles the tribulations of Carl Lucas, played by British actor Luke Goss, as he takes on evil adversaries in a gruelling car race.

The third instalment of the high-speed thriller co-stars Phoenix as Lucas's love interest, Katrina Banks, and boxer-turned-actor Danny Trejo.

Goss said this week that the car-wrecking scenes contradicted his masculine sensibilities. "It's quite sad when shiny new cars are just rolled and smashed to pieces. I always think, 'Well, that's quite a shame.'"

Phoenix, who moved from Cape Town to Los Angeles two years ago, said it was a busy shoot.

"We were filming a fight scene in the emergency Huguenot Tunnel on Sunday. There was so much happening in a small space, and there was so much dust. I did a roundhouse kick, landed on a guy's foot and sprained my ankle."

She was taken to Worcester Medi-Clinic for treatment, but resumed filming the next day.

"Danny had to carry me to the set, and I was wearing an ankle brace," she said.

Producer Mike Elliot said Death Race 3 would offer more "bone-jerking action" .

"We have even more beefed-up and powerful vehicles, with bigger guns, driven by more vicious villains."

Seventeen metal- and gun-embellished cars - including Jeep Wranglers, 4x4 Chevy Suburbans and trophy trucks imported from the US - are being used. "So far, seven of these cars have met a sad demise. We do bad, bad things to them," said the film's vehicle specialist, Alex Wheeler.

Location assistant manager Imali Litholi said, although finely choreographed, the stunts remained nerve-racking.

"For instance, two stunt people drove a Jeep down a cliff at a quarry the other day. The car fell, and they were extracted and pulled back up. With every stunt, I pray, 'Help them, God,'" said Litholi.