Jake Gyllenhaal risked his life filming 'Everest'.

The 34-year-old actor stars as mountaineer Scott Fischer in the adventure drama and admits it was his most intense shoot yet.

He told ABC Radio: ''We were in the elements all the time, and we were at risk all the time. [Director Baltasar Kormákur] gathered a whole group of people who were down to take risks all the time. He'd say, 'Go down there,' you know, and you'd be like, 'Can I get a rope?'''

Meanwhile, the 'Southpaw' star recently revealed he spent time in an altitude simulator to get into character alongside co-star Josh Brolin, who stars as climber Beck Weathers, and also admits there is a ''tremendous responsibility'' recreating a real story.

He shared: ''Josh and I decided to stay longer. We thought we could handle it, and we were feeling good. We were laughing and talking about the fact that we didn't think it was so bad, and then, all of a sudden, we got out of the chamber and just felt sick. We realised the power of being so high up and what that does to your mind.

''There's a tremendous responsibility trying to re-create something which has happened.''