Man On A Ledge Challenges Sam Worthingtons Fear Of Heights: I Thought I Would Burst Into Tears

First Published: January 7, 2012 3:01 PM EST Credit: Summit Entertainment Caption First Look: Sam Worthington In Man On A Ledge LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- He battled greedy environmental enemies in Avatar, Nazi war criminals in The Debt and a gargantuan Kraken in The Clash of the Titans, but leading man Sam Worthington has a weakness a crippling fear of heights. For his latest movie, crime thriller Man on a Ledge, the sexy star, 35, was forced to spend hours standing on a 14-inch deep ledge, 200-feet above the NY City street below a feat he wasnt initially sure hed be able accomplish. Im not a fan of [heights] especially not a fan of being on a 200-foot ledge on a building, Sam told Access Hollywood at the Man on a Ledge junket in Los Angeles on Friday. I get nervous even talking about it! On the first day of filming, Sam felt his tough exterior crumble as he stepped onto the precarious ledge, with the bustling city street below. I stepped out on the ledge and I was worried I was gonna burst into tears and just curl up in a ball, he said with a laugh. I thought, Thats not a very good start for an action movie! But, we got a good start and just went from there. Sam said being surrounded by a stellar cast especially upcoming The Hunger Games star Elizabeth Banks made conquering his fear a bit easier. Elizabeth is great, he told Access of his stunning Man on a Ledge co-star. Ive seen her in her comedies, 30 Rock, et cetera. I saw her in a movie The Next Three Days with Russell Crowe and I thought she was sensational. She reminds me of Zoe Saldana, Jessica Chastain and other actresses Ive worked with who turn up, theyre consummate [and] they just knock it out of the park. Speaking of Zoe Saldana, Sam will soon return to the big screen alongside the 33year-old beauty for the highly anticipated Avatar sequel, and while details are under lock and key, the project is getting underway. I see Jim next week, Sam told Access of Avatar mastermind James Cameron. I know thats hes been putting them together and starting writing, so maybe hes ready to go. Hes told me the story I know where the story is going and where it all sits and its monumental, he added. Catch Sam, along with Elizabeth Banks, Ed Burns and Jamie Bell, when Man on a Ledge hits theaters on January 27. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.