Robert Maillet says glitch in fight choreography behind incident, that Robert Downey Jr. was down but not out

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By Yvon Gauvin
Times & Transcript staff

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STE-MARIE-DE-KENT - To say that Robert Maillet grew up in the rural community of Ste-Marie-de-Kent is an understatement.

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At seven feet tall (2.13 metres), Maillet, who was nicknamed Le Grand, has, at age 39, carved out a respected pro wrestler career and gained inroads in the movie industry as a budding actor, especially as a villain.

Just one swing of his mighty fist was enough to floor one renowned movie star recently.

The incident occurred in November in London, England, during shooting of a scene for Robert Downey Jr.'s latest movie Sherlock Holmes. Maillet whose film debut was in the epic movie 300, released in 2007, didn't intend to strike the actor on the chin but did so in a fight scene.

Downey was supposed to block the blow but there was a miscue in the choreographed fight scene.

"It wasn't supposed to connect," said Maillet.

And while Downey was bloodied by the blow, he wasn't knocked out as reported in the tabloids.

"I was there," Maillet said in an interview from his home this weekend.

Downey, who plays Holmes offers a different twist to the venerated British sleuth. His partner, Watson, is played by Jude Law. Maillet plays the villain Dredger who takes on the famed detective in fight scenes.

The Sherlock Holmes played by Downey is a likeable and much more action-oriented characterization, said Maillet.

Holmes continues to display his deductive intellect but doesn't shy away from physical action. It's more of a James Bond or Indiana Jones action-type role with lots of combat scenes.

"It will be a good Sherlock Holmes," Maillet said.

The film is scheduled for release in November.

Maillet said he was impressed watching Downey, one of his favourite actors, perform in the movie.

Maillet had small roles in video productions and a movie where he spoofed a wrestling legend in the past.

"It's not a big change," from wrestling production to working on a movie, Maillet said, with its make up and lights and back stage action.

The wrestling ring is "almost like a stage" although more dangerous, he said. The film industry takes better care of its actors when it comes to stunts and falls, he said, laughing.

In this movie, he has a speaking role in French, and did his own stunts including jumping from a two-storey height. He had wires to prevent injuries but it was still a "rush," he said.

Actors are often involved in action scenes and accidents are inevitable, said Maillet.

Downey showed professionalism when he returned to the set a short time after being knocked down and finished the scene, said Maillet.

"He's a class act," Maillet said, explaining that Downey sent a bottle of champagne and a card to Maillet that night "to lift my spirits. He knew I felt bad" about the incident.

Working on the movie was a good experience but also tough being away from his family for two months, including a new daughter, a four-year-old girl he and his wife adopted from Ethiopia. The couple have three other children.

Maillet returns to the movie set this month, this time in New York to finish production after shooting the bulk of the movie on location in England.

Maillet wrestled professionally under different names including Kurrgan in the World Wrestling Federation and the Acadian Giant with Real Action Wrestling. He began his wrestling career with Maritime Championship Wrestling and then with the Canadian Championship Wrestling before eventually joining the WWF and held a number of titles.

He was home from filming in London on Dec. 22 and in Montreal four days later taking part in a pro wrestling card before returning to his family and his job as a machine operator with Fantech Ltd. in Bouctouche.

It was while wrestling in Montreal that he was approached for the role in 300 and that part led to this latest movie.

Maillet thinks that, while unfortunate, the incident with Downey may well help his acting career and that's something he's interested in.

In the meantime, there is a standing invitation for Downey to visit Maillet and tour the region.