Trained athlete, actor and safety professional, in one job.

The job

You perform the action: falls, fights, car hits, fire, high work, water work. Often you double an actor, matched in build, costume and wig. Sometimes you play a role: the guard knocked down, the driver in the chase.

You rehearse every stunt until it's repeatable and safe, then do it for as many takes as it needs. You must act, too: a stunt that looks staged doesn't work.

A typical day

• Arrive for costume and hair and make-up, matched to the actor you are doubling.
• Rehearse the action with the coordinator and the other performers.
• Check rigs, pads and harnesses with the riggers.
• Attend the safety briefing the 1st AD and coordinator run before the stunt.
• Perform the stunt for each take, resetting in between.
• Stand by for other action, often on the same day.

Skills

• A high level in several sports. Martial arts, gymnastics, trampolining, diving, climbing, riding, swimming and driving are typical.
• Body awareness, timing and fitness, maintained all year.
• Acting, and matching an actor's movement.
• Safety discipline: following the plan exactly.
• Calm under pressure, and the confidence to say no.

Reporting lines

You report to the stunt coordinator, or to a key stunt performer running action for them. Probationary members work only under a registered coordinator.

How people get in

The British Stunt Register (BSR) is the UK's peer-reviewed register. Its published entry rules ask for a minimum age of 18, high-level achievement in six sporting disciplines across set categories, including a martial art, verified by independent or regulated bodies, plus acting experience. New members take the BSR's Level 1 health and safety course. Preparing usually takes years. Check the BSR for the current rules before you start.

The old JISC (Equity) register, with its JIGS grading, was disbanded in 2017. No law requires registration, but productions expect proof of competence for every stunt (HSE ETIS17).

Next step up

BSR grades run probationary → stunt performer → senior stunt performer → key stunt performer → full member. Full members can conceive, coordinate and supervise action as a stunt coordinator.

Find out more

• British Stunt Register
• HSE: stunts, fights and other hazardous activities (ETIS17)
• Equity: the union for stunt performers. There is no Bectu stunt card.