Stunt doubles are often the unsung heroes of the entertainment industry, risking their lives in dangerous situations to make movie magic happen in Hollywood.
Recently, Jennifer Aniston opted to take on a risky scene in The Morning Show, getting soaked in oil instead of relying on her body double for the stunt.
These body doubles can earn anywhere between £8,500 to £216,000 annually, with an average salary of around £38,762. It’s rare for stunt doubles to make a six-figure income, with only a few reaching that level of success.
While stunt doubles may get to travel to exotic locations for filming, their days are often long, sometimes lasting 14 hours or more, and involve intense preparation and rehearsals for each stunt.
Despite the hard work and dedication of these fearless doubles, their efforts often go unnoticed thanks to the seamless editing in movies and TV shows. In fact, at times, they resemble the stars so closely that it’s difficult to tell them apart, like in the case of Jennifer Aniston.
In Hollywood, Jennifer Aniston’s stunt double proves her skills in a challenging oil scene on The Morning Show. Can you spot the difference between the two lookalikes?
Earlier this week, Jennifer had an unexpected surprise while shooting a scene for an upcoming season of The Morning Show. She found herself covered in oil after a climate change protestor threw a bucket of fake oil on her in New York City.
Despite looking pristine in her initial outfit, the 55-year-old actress was soon sporting a tar-like substance on her white blouse, khaki pants, and arms. Undeterred, she continued to film the scene as her character, Alex Levy, reported from a fictional protest.
Even though she had a body double who mirrored her outfit, Jennifer still seemed caught off guard by the oily incident. Both women carried stylish purses, wore gold watches, and left their straight blonde hair flowing while sporting a natural makeup look.
This unexpected turn of events added a touch of excitement to the filming day for Jennifer, reminiscent of a scene straight out of a movie.
Jason Momoa expressed his gratitude towards his stunt double Kim Fardy for their work together on Fast X and Aquaman. The two were seen in stylish purple silk shirts and wide-legged trousers, sporting matching long, wavy ponytails and facial hair. Momoa shared his excitement for the release of Fast X and praised his stunt team for their hard work. Kim, who is almost as tall as Momoa standing at 6ft 3in, had to bulk up and grow out his hair to match the actor’s iconic look. A similar transformation was made by Sophie Turner for her role.
Laura Butler, an Irish stand-in for Sophie Turner on Game of Thrones, bore such a striking resemblance to Sansa Stark that even Sophie’s then fiancé Joe Jonas had trouble telling them apart during filming. Cast and crew on set frequently mistook Laura for Sophie, with some even congratulating her on her engagement before realizing their mistake. Laura was surprised herself by their similarities, noting that even Maisie Williams, another cast member, was shocked by their likeness. This confusion reached a hilarious peak when Sophie revealed in an interview that Joe had once attempted to kiss Laura, mistaking her for his fiancée. Overall, Laura found the experience of being Sophie’s stand-in to be strange yet fascinating, as others pointed out shared mannerisms and characteristics that she hadn’t noticed herself.
It might seem like your eyes are playing tricks on you, but Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were actually filming Deadpool 3 last year with the help of their stunt doubles. The two actors were shooting fight scenes for the Marvel franchise, with Hugh’s stunt double named Daniel Stevens and Ryan’s named Alex Kyshkovych. Cameras were rolling as Ryan, dressed in his character’s red jumpsuit, squared off against Hugh’s Wolverine, who was striking poses in his yellow and grey outfit. The two actors were later joined by their stunt doubles, all decked out in identical costumes, as they tackled the physical demands of the scenes.
Isla Fisher’s stunt doubles looked just like her, with identical waved fiery red hair that was parted to the side, creating an impressive resemblance.
Isla recently posted a photo with her unidentified stunt double while shooting scenes for the comedy movie Tag back in 2017. Known for her vibrant red hair, Isla and her lookalike stunt doubles all showcased similar long wavy locks that were styled to the side. In a more recent photo taken on set in 2021, the trio smiled for the camera dressed in matching green knitted jumpers and blue jeans. Isla posted the picture in celebration of National Redhead Day, jokingly referring to her doubles as her “sisters.” In a separate image, Isla posed with another stunt double sporting a wig, both wearing coordinating green polo shirts and black leggings.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson was looking strong and rugged as he was seen alongside his stunt double on the set of the 2022 film “Kraven The Hunter.” The actor flaunted his toned body in a white shirt left unbuttoned to reveal a glimpse of his chest, paired with neat black trousers. His stunt double mirrored his outfit, right down to the matching necklace with a white tooth pendant on a black string. The duo’s resemblance was uncanny as they prepared for their roles in the film.
Bobby Holland Hanton, the trusted stunt double for Chris Hemsworth, recently shared how the actor pushed him to his absolute limits while working on the popular superhero franchise, Thor.
Bobby, who is 1.85 meters tall, admitted that he had to follow a strict diet and workout plan to match the Thor star’s towering 1.93 meters. This regimen involved consuming meals ten times a day and rigorous weightlifting sessions to gain muscle mass for the role.
Chris Hemsworth, a renowned Hollywood icon, is known for going all out to prepare for his roles. Bobby Holland Hanton, Hemsworth’s trusted stunt double for the Thor films, shared how the actor pushed him to the limits during their last superhero project. In the upcoming Thor: Blood and Thunder movie, Hemsworth gave Hanton a strict eight-week deadline to bulk up for his role as Thor.
To meet the demands of the character, Hanton, who usually does action scenes for the 1.93m tall star, had to put on 10kgs of muscle and consume a whopping 4,000 calories daily. Standing at 1.85m, he had to follow a rigorous diet and workout regimen to convincingly portray the Norse god. Even though the difference in their heights could be a challenge, Hanton managed to transform into a believable Thor.
During an interview with Hit Mid North Coast’s Krysti and Bodge in 2020, Hanton opened up about his relationship with Hemsworth. He described the actor as hardworking and shared that they had a great understanding. Hanton mentioned that Hemsworth usually performs his own stunts unless there is a risk of injury that could halt production and incur financial losses. In such cases, Hemsworth would task Hanton with the dangerous stunt to avoid any delays in filming.
Overall, Hemsworth’s dedication and commitment to his roles are evident, and his partnership with Hanton ensures that the action sequences in the Thor franchise are executed flawlessly.
Jake Tomuri, Tom Hardy’s stunt double, shared on social media how he enjoyed being tossed around while filling in for the actor during the making of Venom. In a photo posted online, the pair looked happy, sporting matching long-sleeved tops and navy checked pajama bottoms. Jake captioned the image with a playful nod to their roles, saying, “We are Eddie! I had a blast getting thrown around on this one! A huge shoutout to @james.churchman and the whole team for taking care of me. If you haven’t seen it yet, go check it out and enjoy the excitement!! @venommovie @tomhardy #stunts”
During the filming of the blockbuster movie Jurassic World Dominion, Chris Pratt shared on Instagram that embodying his character requires teamwork. He posted a picture with his stunt doubles – Clay Chamberlin, Alistair Whitton, and Chris Romrell, showcasing the effort put in to bring Owen Grady to life on screen. Dressed in his trademark khaki shirt, navy jumper, jeans, and boots, Chris humorously captioned the image with, ‘It takes a village of me’s to be me’.
Following the recent release of Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021, Tom Holland took a moment to express his gratitude towards his stunt doubles, Luke Scott and Greg Townley, for their invaluable contributions to the film.
In a joyous mood, Tom shared a photo from the set where the trio could be seen donning matching Spider-Man outfits. Luke and Greg stood side by side in a coordinated pose, cradling Tom in their arms.
In his heartfelt message, Tom credited the stunt doubles for their essential roles, acknowledging that the movie wouldn’t have been the same without them. He recounted some of the challenges they faced together, from Luke’s staircase crash to Greg falling through the floor, and even his own mishap with a glider that ended with a stubbed toe.
Tom closed his message with a sincere declaration of appreciation and camaraderie, expressing his love for the duo.
Brie Larson exemplified true grace when she took home the Best Fight Award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards for her portrayal of Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel, graciously dedicating the honor to her two female stunt doubles.
The dedication and hard work Larson put into preparing for the role and filming the intense scenes paid off as she shared the prize with her doubles, Joanna Bennett and Renae Moneymaker.
In an excited tone, Larson expressed, ‘This is so amazing!’ as she received her golden popcorn trophy alongside the two women. She expressed her gratitude towards MTV and her fans before turning her focus on her stunt doubles.
Acknowledging their crucial role in the making of the film, Larson stated, ‘I wanted to take a moment to thank these two incredible women standing here beside me. They not only trained me but also performed the stunts as Captain Marvel.’
She further added, ‘I genuinely believe that I couldn’t have done this without them. They truly embody the essence of Captain Marvel and are the backbone of her character.’
During a recent interview, Larson expressed her gratitude towards the women who trained her and served as the stunt doubles for Captain Marvel, acknowledging that the film wouldn’t have been possible without their expertise. Larson then graciously allowed Bennett and Moneymaker to step into the spotlight and share their thoughts. Both women wasted no time in expressing their appreciation for Larson’s acknowledgment of the stunt community. Bennett remarked how working on the film and embodying a powerful female character was an incredible experience they all shared. Moneymaker added a personal touch by mentioning how she and Bennett, who had childhood dreams of emulating iconic female characters like Lara Croft and G.I. Jane, were honored to be part of Captain Marvel, hoping to inspire others as they were inspired by their childhood heroes.
Stunt expert Mike Massa has taken on the role of Harrison Ford’s stunt double in two major films, including ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ and ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’.
Before heading onto the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mike Massa geared up to step into Harrison Ford’s shoes as his stunt double. With previous experience as Ford’s stand-in on movies like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Mike was no stranger to the action-packed scenes. Sporting black dots on his face for CGI effects, Mike was ready to bring Ford’s iconic character to life on screen. After filming, Ford and Mike even took a moment to pose together, sharing a laugh in matching leather jackets and shirts. As Mike prepped for his scenes, he gave fans a behind-the-scenes look on his Instagram, sharing snaps of his hair and makeup transformation.
Fans may have had to do a double take when Amy Schumer was spotted posing with her stunt double Meredith Richardson during the filming of I Feel Pretty back in 2018. The two women looked almost identical, both rocking long blonde hair styled in neat braids. Wearing matching black and white long-sleeved tops and navy track pants, they posed together on set. Amy even expressed her love for Meredith in a sweet Instagram post, captioning it with, ‘2nd movie with @bamastunts and couldn’t love her more!’