Berlin Photocall Chaos as Haley Lu Richardson Does Headstand and Flips off Cameras
Haley Lu Richardson has long been celebrated for her infectious high energy and her ability to captivate an audience. At a recent press event for her latest film, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, during the Berlin Film Festival, the 30-year-old actress proved that her flair for the theatrical extends far beyond the silver screen.
During a Friday photocall, Richardson stunned onlookers by effortlessly transitioning into an impromptu acrobatic routine, performing headstands and high kicks in front of the flashing cameras. Dressed in a sharp black blazer and shorts paired with high heels, the actress showcased a level of athleticism that few expected at a formal film event.
The spontaneous display of martial arts moves and flexible splits drew gasps from the crowd, leaving her co-stars Sam Rockwell and Michael Peña in stitches. Director Gore Verbinski even tried to join in on the fun with his own kicks, though he admitted he was no match for Richardson’s agility.
The lively atmosphere at the photocall was apparently a mirror image of the bond the cast shared during production. Verbinski noted that the group was impossible to wrangle because they were constantly joking and singing together rather than retreating to their separate trailers.
In the film, a dystopian comedy that runs just over two hours, Richardson plays a mysterious figure named Ingrid who spends much of her screen time in a specialised princess dress. The plot features Sam Rockwell as a “man from the future” who descends upon a Los Angeles diner to recruit a team capable of stopping a terminal threat from rogue artificial intelligence.
While her professional life is currently reaching new heights, Richardson has also been candid about the personal growth she experienced following a significant breakup. After ending her long-term engagement to actor Brett Dier in 2020, she spent the following years rediscovering her own strength and independence.
Haley Lu Richardson, the icon that you are. 👑 She showed off her moves at the "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" photocall in Berlin. (📷: Getty) pic.twitter.com/wlAYhEPM7g
— E! News (@enews) February 15, 2026
Reflecting on that period of her life, she admitted that she once feared her world would simply stop if that relationship ever ended. However, gaining the perspective of time allowed her to realise that she was capable of being on my own and moving forward.
Richardson described the process of finding herself again as an amazing thing to learn, noting that being single has positively influenced nearly every part of her day-to-day existence. Beyond the Berlin festivities, Richardson has been keeping an incredibly busy schedule as she navigates the year.
In addition to her role in the Verbinski sci-fi comedy, she recently starred in the Hong Kong-based indie drama Zi, which held its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. In that film, she reunited with director Kogonada for a poetic story about a one-night connection that challenges her character’s view of the future.
She is also set to appear in the Peacock series Ponies, an espionage thriller set in Moscow during the Cold War. In that project, she stars alongside Emilia Clarke as a pair of embassy secretaries who find themselves entangled in a web of international intrigue.
As if her acting slate weren’t enough, Richardson recently published a book of poetry and continues to be a frequent guest on the talk show circuit, where she often shares her lighthearted “Jonas Brothers” fandom with viewers.
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