JUSTIN LONG GOES FOR THE PUNCH

Justin Long freaked out that he had to punch a woman, let alone martial artist Maggie Q.

Asian star Maggie Q is the go to actress for martial arts action sequences. Tom Cruise sought her out for Mission Impossible III and Bruce Willis requested her as the villainess for Live Free or Die Hard.

Justin Long says he was intimidated to approach the skilled fighter in a scene where he had to raise his fists to her.

“Actually I had a scene with Maggie where I had to punch her. Maggie: That was awesome. Justin: Kind of like Monty Burns hitting Smithers. Maggie: It was funny when Justin went to punch me and the director said, ‘alright punch her like you really mean it.’ It was a very disconcerting thing because obviously Maggie is very beautiful and we’d become friends. I really kind of liked her. Aside from the fact that I would never hit a woman unless it was my mother.”

He’s just kidding of course but needless to say Justin went for it and soon discovered Maggie Q is a master at blocking a punch.

“And so like to go and punch. I’m not used to punching anyone. It was a very strange thing and she was like, ‘no, no, punch me.’ I did it and she grabbed my fist and spun me around. We did a couple of takes and she was like, ‘I’m sorry,’ and I’m trying to maintain some semblance of heterosexuality. Like I’m fine, like please. The next day I literally could not lift my arm. Maggie: He could not move his arm. I said Good morning to him and he went, ‘ahhh.’ I let out this weak little feminine cry.”

Believe it or not Maggie Q who spent most of the film chopping Willis with her bare hands came out of the shoot virtually unscathed with just a couple of minor cuts and bruises.