Acting is an incredibly challenging job that requires actors to give and do a lot, but some actors take things even further by doing their own stunts. It takes a huge amount to make a movie, with most of the work that goes into the project never actually being seen in the finished product. From costume designers to cameramen, and from the sound department to the special effects, there is a lot that happens behind the scenes. However, one important aspect that is intended to be on-screen, but carefully constructed to hide key details, is the stunt team.

Actors typically put a lot of themselves into their performance, but where the line tends to be drawn is when it risks affecting their health or safety. That’s where stunt teams come in. When an actor performing a dangerous scene could result in injury, or if the scene requires intense action like fighting or acrobatics that the actor is not able to perform, movies use stunt actors to fill in and make the actor look good. However, there are some actors in Hollywood who choose to do either all, or the vast majority of their own stunts.

15

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise is one of the most notable names in acting who chooses to do his own stunts. Having grown in popularity at breakneck speed, he quickly became an action star in the 1980s. The following decade, he began starring in a series of action films called Mission: Impossible. However, from his first action role in 1986’s Top Gun, he chose to take risks and try his hand at doing his own stunts. That choice almost cost his life when he nearly drowned on set (via THR), but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to do many of his own stunts to this day.

14

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan’s career as an actor began when he was just 5 years old, appearing in minor roles in Chinese films. As he grew, he continued to work in TV and films, and did so consistently throughout his life. In 1972, he was working as a stunt double for the villain in a Bruce Lee movie, Fist of Fury, and just over 10 years later, he had established his own stunt company to choreograph and assist with other films. His charisma and charm, however, meant that he was soon performing in leading roles, while also doing the stunt work for most of his films.

13

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron began her acting career with minor roles in offbeat horror films, but she quickly gained critical acclaim for her talent when her breakout role in 1997’s The Devil’s Advocate was released two years into her acting journey. Since then, Theron has appeared in numerous films in a variety of roles. However, it wasn’t until many years later that she began to take an active interest in working in action movies. Then, progressing from acting to also doing her own stunts, as she did in 2017’s Atomic Blonde and 2020s The Old Guard.

12

Keanu Reeves

Theron was actually inspired by her good friend, Keanu Reeves, who was another action star who had built a reputation for doing many of his own stunts (via /Film). Reeves had been appearing in action roles for decades. Reeves has performed the majority of his own stunts in many of his films, including The Matrix and John Wick. Despite his advancing age, and being almost 60 years old while filming John Wick Chapter 4, Reeves continues to do his own stunts.

11

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie got into acting through her father when she was a child, but when she returned to acting as an adult, she began appearing in action films early in her career. In 2001, she played Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider movie, where she opted to do many of her own stunts. This then continued throughout her career with all of her other projects. Jolie has even opted to do stunts where doubles refused (via The Things).

10

Jason Statham

Jason Statham is another actor who started his career in another professional athletic capacity before transitioning to acting. Statham was originally an elite diver, which meant he was extremely physically fit. This allowed him to easily shift into physically demanding roles with plenty of action, and certainly benefited big projects later like The Meg. Now, Statham is one of the top action heroes in film today.

9

Daniel Craig

Daniel had a healthy career in film and TV before he was cast in the role of James Bond, but from that point onward, there was a notable shift toward more action-heavy roles. Craig got into peak shape and pushed his body to the limits of performing as Bond, and it resulted in the actor racking up a long list of injuries (via Esquire). Whether he will continue to push himself after retiring from playing Bond largely remains to be seen, but there doesn’t appear to be any obvious reasons why the actor would slow down.

8

Christian Bale

Christian Bale has built up a reputation as an actor who tests the limits of what is possible. For various roles, he has gained and lost incredible volumes of weight, resulting in visually stunning appearances, both horrifying and awe-inspiring. However, the actor also pushes the limits with stunt work. Notably, during his performance in The Dark Knight trilogy, Bale was keen to perform many of his own stunts, resulting in several death-defying experiences.

7

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford was one of the original action heroes. Quickly collecting roles as action heroes such as Indiana Jones, Rick Deckard and Han Solo to name a few, Ford established a reputation as a rough and ready hero who was never afraid to leap into danger. Just like his on-screen counterparts, Ford leaped into action and opted to perform many of his own stunts. This then continued throughout his career, leading to him becoming the oldest actor to do his own stunts while in his 80s and filming the latest Indiana Jones movie (via Collider).

6

Tom Holland

Tom Holland has had a colorful career that began in British theater, where he sang, danced and performed in numerous West End shows, but most notably, Billy Elliot. Tom also refined other skills, such as gymnastics and acrobatics, which served him well in his career and played a part in him landing the role of Spider-Man in the MCU due to the fact that he was able to perform many of the same jumps, spins, flips and rolls that the character can. As a result, he has continued to apply these talents in his work, performing many of his own stunts.

5

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich is another actress who has performed many of her own stunts, including in the first Resident Evil film where she performed all except one of her own stunts (via /Film). However, with some of her later work, including subsequent entries of Resident Evil, the stunts grew exponentially in scale, and she was forced to step back for some of the more intense stunts. However, where possible, Jovovich is ready and rearing to put herself into her work, including performing the stunts.

4

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar winning performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once was perhaps aided by her ambition to learn martial arts and perform her own stunts in the role (via Roger Ebert). Yeoh chose to commit to learning and perfecting these techniques to such a high standard, despite her slightly advanced age at the time of filming. However, the commitment paid off, and her performance was widely praised and celebrated.

3

Chloë Grace Moretz

However, on the other end of the spectrum for age, Chloë Grace Moretz was barely a teenager when her film Kick-Ass came out, but that didn’t stop her performing her own stunts (via Winnipeg Free Press). Moretz had previously studied ballet and gymnastics, which helped prepare her for the role, in addition to being raised in a home with four older brothers. This talent for performing in heavy action and physically demanding roles has continued to shape Moretz’ career over the years.

2

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone has always maintained his high level of fitness, which benefited the star when he appeared in action roles such as playing Rocky or Rambo. Stallone became one of the biggest action stars of all time, and throughout his entire career, he continued to appear in physical roles and action blockbusters. Most recently, he has starred in The Expendables franchise, where, even in his 60s, he chooses to take the lead when performing his own stunts for his work.

1

Dwayne Johnson

Before Dwayne Johnson ventured into the world of Hollywood filmmaking, he was a major celebrity on the WWF circuit, going by the wrestling name, The Rock. This nickname continued to follow him into his acting career, as well as his tendency to get involved in physical and action-heavy roles. Johnson continues to be a star who is as comfortable appearing in major cinematic action epics, or animated family films. However, he continues to perform his own stunts and has recently returned to the slightly altered WWE to reclaim his role as the legendary heel.