Was Arielle Kebbel Actually Running Underwater on ‘Rescue: HI-Surf’?

Rescue: HI-Surf put Arielle Kebbel through the wringer — and she was up for the challenge.

During the first season of the Fox series, viewers were surprised to see Kebbel’s character, Em, running underwater with a boulder. Us caught up with Kebbel to get a breakdown of what went into filming such a physically difficult role.

“I love the rock running stuff because [of] the training that you have to do,” Kebbel, 39, shared in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “We would first go in a pool and we’d work with a world renowned diver. He free dives like over a hundred feet and [with him we were doing] breath holds.”

Kebbel specifically had a lot to learn, including how to “expand” her rib cage and her lungs while having to “breathe through” her back.

“We’re on a boat headed out and we’re doing breathing exercises. But it’s about the prep the night before in terms of sleep, what you eat, what you drink and what you don’t,” she noted. “There’s just so many things about prepping your body to do this right.”

Getting the scene right felt like an accomplishment for Kebbel, who said, “Being able to be underwater doing the rock running above the ocean and seeing that the teachings work and do their magic felt very special. It’s like, ‘Oh wow. I can take these tools anywhere now.’ I’m also lucky enough to have them watching me running safely, but it’s definitely a life changing experience.”

Rescue: HI-Surf, which premiered last month, follows the personal and professional lives of the open-water lifeguards who patrol and protect the North Shore of O’ahu a.k.a the most famous and dangerous stretch of coastline in the world.

In addition to Kebbel, the series stars Robbie Magasiva, Adam Demos, Kekoa Scott Kekumano, Zoe Cipres and Alex Aiono.

“I’ve played an assassin, a firefighter, a police officer, and nothing could prepare me for the amount of work it is to be a lifeguard,” Kebbel told Us, before noting there’s “no second chances” when it comes to filming in rough waters. “This is what [Em has] always wanted to do. She’s a true maverick. She’s not only a great lifeguard, but she’s also a great surfer and a paddler.”

The actress continued: “She is also pretty primal at times and a little rough around the edges, especially when it comes to running her mouth, but it’s also because it’s always based in a place of truth.”

Demos, 39, who plays Will Ready, also reflected on how Rescue: HI-Surf is different from every other show, adding, “It’s just more of an authentic look to the North Shore lifeguards … and how heroic these first responder lifeguards are. I think everyone’s going to be stoked.”

If you have a burning entertainment question for our team of experts, email us at [email protected]. For more, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.

Rescue: HI-Surf airs on Fox Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.

With reporting by Sarah Jones