HOW I GOT HERE

Maria Hippolyte reflects on her thrilling career as a stunt actor in some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster films

Meet stunt actor Maria Hippolyte

Maria Hippolyte describes herself as a ‘late bloomer’; she was in her 30s when she decided to train to become a stunt actor. Now, she’s performed in some of the biggest blockbusters of our time, including Wonder Woman, Black Panther and the Avengers franchise. Here, she reveals what it’s like to work in the industry.

AS A CHILD, I LOVED GYMNASTICS AND DANCE. I completed a bachelor’s degree at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, before getting a job as a performer at the Millennium Dome, where I danced in front of the Queen and the Prime Minister. For the next 12 years, I worked as a freelance artist and did circus work. I wasn’t paid much, but it brought me amazing opportunities, such as performing at the Commonwealth Games and the 2012 Olympics.

I MET STUNT ACTORS WHILE TRAINING AT THE GYM. They taught me fighting moves and told me I’d be great at stunts. I had no money for training, but their words stuck in my mind. Then, in 2011, I did some fight scenes on the Batman Live tour. The experience convinced me to pursue stunts, so I began looking into how I could get on to The British Stunt Register, an association of professional stunt artists.

I TRAINED IN GYMNASTICS, TAEKWONDO, TRAMPOLINING, SCUBA

DIVING, HIGH DIVING AND ROCK CLIMBING. I had to pass all six courses and do 60 days as a film extra to get on to the register. Life was about training, eating and sleeping. I stopped going out and seeing my friends and saved money. It was tough, but I knew it wasn’t for ever.

I HADN’T COMPLETED MY TRAINING FULLY BEFORE I GOT MY FIRST JOB

ON WONDER WOMAN. My part involved [co-star] Gal Gadot chucking her shield at me and knocking me out. After that, I flew to Malta to complete my scuba diving course and made it on to the register.

SIX MONTHS LATER, I WAS ASKED TO AUDITION FOR BLACK PANTHER.

I couldn’t believe it when I got the job. I played one of the Dora Milaje warriors and doubled for Lupita Nyong’o.

I did two Avengers films: Infinity War and Endgame, and Spider-man: Far From Home soon after.

EVERY AUDITION IS DIFFERENT. Sometimes you’re asked to do falls, other times people want to see how you take and throw punches; whether you can take a bullet and if you look strong or weak. You’re asked to do things that you haven’t been taught, so you have to be able to show that you can learn new things.

I TOOK A BAD SMASH ON SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME. I was attached to a machine called a ratchet, which propels you through the air. Spider-man grabbed the back of my leg and slammed me into a pillar, but I was less bruised than I expected. I’ve always been brave, it keeps me confident.

WOMEN AREN’T ALWAYS ABLE TO WEAR ELBOW OR KNEE PADS BECAUSE THEY’RE IN A DRESS, SO YOU CAN GET BADLY HURT. If you can’t take a knock, then this isn’t the job for you. I sometimes get scared doing big stunts, but I tell myself, ‘Fear, I can’t deal with you right now.’ You have to trust your abilities.

BLACK PANTHER AND WONDER WOMAN WERE VERY IMPORTANT FILMS.

On stunt sets, most of my colleagues are men and I’m one of only two Black women on the stunt register. So films that focus on strong women and strong Black women are a big thing. It’s created a lot more enthusiasm for people of ethnicity and women to get into the industry.

IT CAN BE CRAZY TO FIND A BALANCE. I work six-day weeks doing 12- to 15-hour days. On Wonder Woman we were running on the sand, back and forth, all day. But when we had a set change, we were on the beach. You have to try to draw the positives out of the situations you’re in.

‘I GET SCARED, BUT YOU HAVE TO TRUST YOUR ABILITIES’