Acclaimed British actress Imelda Staunton has expressed regret about appearing in the 2006 straight-to-video action film Shadow Man alongside Steven Seagal, describing the experience as "absolutely terrible; shockingly bad." The Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning performer, who was already an established stage and screen talent with over two decades of experience, identified this as the only significant regret from her otherwise distinguished career.

Staunton accepted the role for financial reasons and the opportunity to develop an American accent on camera. During the production, Seagal was present for only two days of her filming schedule, choosing instead to use a stand-in or a Romanian film student for his scenes. The film achieved limited viewership beyond Seagal's most devoted fans, making Staunton's involvement in the project largely inconsequential to her broader career trajectory.