Bonus payments. Pension schemes. Friday drinks. Every job has its benefits. And for stuntwomen, calling exercise ‘work’ is one of the big pluses. It’s not a role the careers officer will have prepped you for; performing daredevil stunts on the latest blockbuster is hardly a mainstream occupation.
In fact, most stuntwomen seem to have fallen into the job by accident, citing a love of an extreme sport as the catalyst for discovering the profession.
But it’s a job that comes with major street cred; starring in Hollywood movies, brushing shoulders with the stars and performing impressive feats of athleticism are all in a day’s work. While some A-listers do their own stunts (Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise, we’re looking at you), most call in a professional to race across the rooftops or jump out of moving vehicles.
And while these über-fit professionals often perform under the radar, the movies just wouldn’t be the same without them. We caught up with three Hollywood stuntwomen to find out what it takes to make it in the fittest of businesses. Prepare to be impressed.
