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The movie, about a group of illusionists who perform bank heists during their performances, saw Isla's character, Henley, perform a water tank illusion.

This illusion wasn't any ordinary stunt, but one that nearly cost the former 'Home & Away' actress her life.

The actress starts the trick in chains, banging on the glass to create the illusion of distress. She then has to unshackle herself to escape the tank.

Isla Fisher during the water tank illusion in 'Now You See Me'. Credit: Hopscotch Films
While filming the stunt, Isla revealed that she feared for her life when her chains became tangled.

'They had a guy who was off camera, but he was a long way away with a can of oxygen,’ Isla said. ‘By the time I realised I couldn’t get up and beckoned for him, I realised that I had run out of air.’

A nearby safety button that would have drained the 300,000 litre tank in seconds was also out of reach for the actress.

Thankfully, the actress eventually managed to free herself. 'Luckily, I managed to get free and stay level-headed and got out before it went even more horribly wrong.’

So what was the pint-sized actress thinking while she struggled to free herself? 'Not in a swimming costume. No one wants to go in a swimming costume.’

Despite the courage required to film her own stunts, Isla revealed she felt anything but brave. 'I don’t see myself as particularly brave... The director [Louis Leterrier] said to me, “Wow. I’ve worked with so many actors on big action movies, and you’re the only one who’s done all their own stunts.”

'I said I didn’t know I had a choice. I thought you just had to get on with it. It’s the Australian way.'
Before hitting the big screens in August with 'Now You See Me', Isla will also be appearing in 'The Great Gatsby' later this month where she plays Myrtle Wilson in the Baz Luhrmann directed production.