Stunts are fundamental to the movies. Stuntwomen examines the largely unexplored profession of stuntwomen in the American entertainment industry from the silent movie era to the 2000s. To their unique line of work, stunt players bring a combination of skills—athletics, acting, courage, adaptability, and a willingness to take risks. Minorities and women in the profession have battled institutional discrimination, unequal pay, and little access to higher positions. The book describes how stunt work began, its development over the decades, and its inherent dangers. It also charts the history of f ... More

Stunts are fundamental to the movies. Stuntwomen examines the largely unexplored profession of stuntwomen in the American entertainment industry from the silent movie era to the 2000s. To their unique line of work, stunt players bring a combination of skills—athletics, acting, courage, adaptability, and a willingness to take risks. Minorities and women in the profession have battled institutional discrimination, unequal pay, and little access to higher positions. The book describes how stunt work began, its development over the decades, and its inherent dangers. It also charts the history of film and television, the rise of visual effects, and vital social changes—such as the civil rights and women’s movements—that influenced the growth of women’s action roles onscreen and improved opportunities for both actresses and stuntwomen. Most changes have been difficult and slow, however. From the 1920s on, stuntwomen were in a classic David and Goliath battle against the system to gain the work that might injure or even kill them. Since the 1970s, as the number of stuntwomen has increased, they have actively challenged their working conditions, sometimes successfully, but often not. Today’s new generation of stuntwomen has different expectations. Inequities still exist, but these stuntwomen’s talent, audacity, and onscreen feats will prevail.