Martial Artists In Movies: The Real Deal - Volume 1
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- Stunts
- Actress
- Writer
Mimi Lesseos was born on 25 February 1964 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Double Duty (2009), Streets of Rage (1993) and Beyond Fear (1993).Judo, Karate, Kickboxing
Trivia: is a former pro wrestler, having performed in the FMW, AWA, AJPW, and LPWA
Best seen in PUSHED TO THE LIMIT- Michelle Lintel was born on 14 August 1969 in the USA. She is an actress, known for Black Scorpion (2001), Sting of the Black Scorpion (2002) and Black Scorpion Returns (2001).Krav Maga
Trivia: is a 2-time Junior Olympic Bronze medalist in hurdling
Best seen in STING OF THE BLACK SCORPION - Actress
- Producer
Athena Massey has captivated audiences with an array of multifaceted performances in film and television. She made her film debut opposite Don "The Dragon" Wilson in "Virtual Combat." Massey's physically demanding role garnered a lot of attention and respect. Skilled in Martial Arts and Krav Maga, she performed her own stunts in the film and continued to impress audiences and critics with her kickboxing skills in "Cybertracker 2."
Massey went on to star in films such as "Undercover Heat," "The Unspeakable," "Star Portal," "Termination Man" and "Harold Robbins' Body Parts." She can also be seen in "The Nutty Professor" with Eddie Murphy, "Poison Ivy: The New Seduction," "Molly," and "Black Scorpion Returns."
Emmy Award-winning television shows "Seinfeld" and "The Larry Sanders Show" each offered her a guest-starring appearance. Other television credits include: "Doogie Howser M.D.," "Murder One", "LA Heat", "Young and the Restless," "Nash Bridges," "Red Shoe Diaries," "Black Scorpion" and the highly-acclaimed series, "Star Trek: Voyager."
Massey has also successfully crossed over into the CD Rom interactive world, initially in "Quarterback Attack" with Mike Ditka. She then portrayed a GDI Pilot in "Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun" and played Lieutenant Eva Lee in "Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2" and "Red Alert 2: Yuri's Revenge."
Massey resides in Los Angeles, California, where she raises two teenage daughters and is passionate about Health & Wellness and travel.Krav Maga
Trivia: prefers to perform her own stunts
Best seen in VIRTUAL COMBAT- Actress
- Additional Crew
She graduated summa cum laude from York University in Toronto and went on to work at the University in its Human Performance Lab, testing such elite professional athletes as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks. She was also offered a scholarship to the master's program in physiotherapy at the University of Toronto but declined. She has writen a book on fitness and bodybuilding with one of her former university professors. Robert Kennedy (publisher of MuscleMag - whom she used to write for) convinced her to study acting and she began taking classes at the Actors Network in Toronto. Victoria is a blue belt in Shotokan karate and her favorite form of exercise is kickboxing. Victoria splits her time between Toronto, Los Angeles and New Zealand.Kickboxing, Shotokan Karate (blue belt)
Trivia: is a former writer for MuscleMag magazine
Best seen in MUTANT X- Director
- Executive
- Writer
Rebekah Chaney made her directorial and writing debut with the critically-acclaimed short Waste Land, starring noted film actor and Academy Award nominee Ryan O'Neal. Waste Land garnered several awards--in the Boston International Film Festival, Action on Film Festival Long Beach, and the Salento International Film Festival--including Best Short, Best Director, and Best Actor.
As one of the few female directors working in the industry, Chaney continued to defy conventions when in 2012 she made her feature film directorial debut with her original screenplay Slumber Party Slaughter, becoming one of the few female directors working in the horror genre. Slumber Party Slaughter recently won Best Director at the Boston International Film Festival 2012 and was an Official Selection at the Phoenix Film Festival as well as Atlanta Film Festival.
She is the great-grandniece of the legendary silent film actor Lon Chaney, also known as the "Man with a Thousand Faces" who originated the roles of Hunchback of Notre Dame, Phantom of the Opera, among many others in the silver screen. Chaney lives in Los Angeles, Califonia.Tae Kwon Do (2nd Dan)
Trivia: is the grandniece of Lon Chaney
Best seen in XTREME FIGHTER- Actress
- Soundtrack
On February 13th, 1968, a girl of Chinese, English, and Hawaiian ancestry was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her father, Herbert, was a salesman and her mother, Juanita, worked many odd jobs to help support the family. She has one older brother, Glenn. She is a former Miss Teen USA, and modeled in Japan and Italy for several months before deciding to relocate to L.A. and try her hand at show business. She received her break on TV's Growing Pains (1985) in 1987 and never looked back.Karate
Trivia: as a child, her older brother would organize fights between her and neighborhood boys
Best seen in THE TOURNAMENT- Actress
- Stunts
Ka'imi Kuoha is known for Veronica Mars (2004), Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988) and Seers of the Ninth Island (2014).Kara-Ho Kempo
Trivia: is the daughter of Sam Kuoha, the only grandmaster of Kara-Ho Kempo
Best seen in BLACK BELT ANGELS- Actress
- Producer
- Executive
Kristanna Sommer Loken was born in Ghent, New York, to Rande (Porath) and Merlin "Chris" Loken. She is of half Norwegian and half German descent. She began her modeling career at the early age of 15. Encouraged by her mother, who was a model prior to her daughter's birth, Kristanna's modeling career, as well as her aspirations in acting brought her to New York where she now resides. The glamorous actress/ model seems to have stayed true to her roots: her father owns an apple farm in upstate New York where he writes novels and screenplays. Aside from establishing herself as a supermodel with an Elite contract, Kristanna has made numerous television appearances as well as what could be her breakthrough film role in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, released in 2003.Krav Maga
Trivia: also practices Bikram yoga
Best seen in MORTAL KOMBAT: CONQUEST- Actress
- Producer
- Music Department
Brenda Song was born in Carmichael, California. Her father is Hmong and her mother is Thai-American. Brenda, her parents, and her younger brothers Timmy and Nathan now live in a suburb of Los Angeles.
Brenda was named an All-American Scholar in ninth grade and holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
She stars as London Tipton, the hotel owner's spoiled daughter, in the Disney Channel's sitcom The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005). Having acted since age six, Brenda is already a familiar face to Disney Channel viewers. Before beginning production on the new series, she had a recurring role as the hip and trendy Tia on Phil of the Future (2004). She also starred in the top-rated Disney Channel Original Movies Stuck in the Suburbs (2004), the mystery Get a Clue (2002) with Lindsay Lohan, and The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000) with Hallee Hirsh and Spencer Breslin.
Her other television credits include guest starring roles on That's So Raven (2003), George Lopez (2002), The Bernie Mac Show (2001), 7th Heaven (1996), One on One (2001), The Nightmare Room (2001), Judging Amy (1999), Popular (1999), Once and Again (1999), and as a panelist on Small Talk (1996). Brenda also had a starring role on the series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd (1999).
On the big screen, she starred in Like Mike (2002) opposite Shad Moss and Jonathan Lipnicki, and appeared in Leave It to Beaver (1997) and Santa with Muscles (1996) starring Hulk Hogan.
A self-proclaimed total dork, she loves sampling international cuisine, shopping and studying. She is an avid Los Angeles Lakers fan.Tae Kwon Do, Wushu, Shaolin Kung Fu
Trivia: was pressured into studying the martial arts by her mother, who wouldn't let her take dance lessons
Best seen in WENDY WU: HOMECOMING WARRIOR- Stunts
- Actress
Dana Hee is also a television color commentator (local, national, and int'l Taekwondo events). A master of ceremonies (U.S.O.C. Olympic Academy, Olympic Sports Festival, San Francisco-Seoul Sister City Fund raiser, National Educational seminars for CAPHERD and AAHPERD. A motivational speaker (over 86 engagements) IBM, Hewett Packard, United Way, Int'l Olympic Academy in Greece, United Airlines, SunRider Corp., Pros for Kids, No against Drugs, Community programs, Government Shelters, etc. A spokesperson for Olympic Sports festival, Power Foods Inc., Otomix, Pro-Spec, Alacer Corporation, Santa Clara Cherry Growers ASsoc., United States Taekwondo Union, etc.Tae Kwon Do (US Olympic Team member; Olympic Gold medalist; 2-time US National Silver medalist), Shotokan Karate (brown belt), Capoeira, Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Schui-Jow
Trivia: was a Master of Ceremonies at the 1988 Olympics, in which she also competed
Best seen in MORTAL KOMBAT: CONQUEST- Stunts
- Actress
Veteran stunt woman and actor. Year after year, Meryl reaps rewards of acknowledgment including a historical two-time, Taurus Award nomination for her performance in the opening scene of Quentin Turentino's blockbuster-- Kill Bill; A Taurus Award for "Best Overall Stunt By A Woman," for the movie Obsessed, and in 2010 an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show that she from the studio rooftop before jumping down to sit one on one with Winfrey for a candid talk about her life as a stunt woman.
Meryl doubles a cadre of A-list babes in Hollywood including Beyonce, Halle Berry and Rihanna and so many more.
As a martial artist she trains diligently to maintain optimum fitness and stamina for daily living. But for the advancement of her professional career Meryl studies habitually with some of Hollywood's top acting coaches and stunt training facilities in order to remain on the cutting edge of the ever evolving business of entertainment.
Meryl beams with pride and joy when at home with her daughter, her family, dear friends and those she mentors in both the community and industry at large.Karate
Trivia: trained under Marcus Salgado
Best seen in KILL BILL VOL. 1- Stunts
- Actress
- Producer
Wushu, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Kobudo
Trivia: trained in XMA under Mike Chat
Best seen in SLUG STREET SCRAPPERS- Stunts
- Actress
- Casting Director
One of the top competitors on American Ninja Warriors, Jessie Graff is quickly becoming known as a modern day Wonder Woman, breaking stereotypes as she continues to break records. Graff made national headlines in June 2016 during the Los Angeles qualifier when she became the first woman to make it up the new, higher 14-and-a-half-foot Warped Wall, while donning a Wonder Woman costume. She returned to the Los Angeles Finals just weeks later, and in the same iconic outfit, once again conquered the Warped Wall and continued to go on to be one of only two ninjas to make it through the eighth obstacle to punch her ticket back to the Las Vegas finals for the second year in a row.
Graff made her first appearance on American Ninja Warrior [NBC] in season five in 2013. She was quickly a fan favorite as she tackled the course in a chicken dress, in honor of her "Epic Chick Fight" video, and became the first woman to qualify for the city finals. Graff then had a history-making season seven, becoming the second woman to qualify outright for the Las Vegas finals, and placing higher in city finals than a woman had ever placed. She broke that record again in season 8, when she placed second in city finals and became the only woman to qualify for Las Vegas twice.
Graff attributes much of her success on the seemingly impossible obstacles of American Ninja Warrior to her decade long career in stunts. Awarded the Action Icon Award for "Stuntwoman of the Year," her credits include: G.I. Joe, Transformers, Die Hard, The Dark Knight as well as being a recurring double on Supergirl, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Leverage and many more. Graff has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a black sash in Kung Fu and is trained in five other styles of martial arts, high falls, wipeouts, sky diving, motorcycles, stunt driving, fire, wirework and of course, flying trapeze. Graff also broke the pole-vault record at Georgia Tech (where she majored in Aerospace Engineering) and the University of Nebraska (where she earned her degree in Theatre) and was 1.5 inches away from qualifying for the 2004 Olympic trials in the sport.
The journey for Graff was ignited at the age of 3, when she attended the Big Apple Circus and begged the ringmaster to let her try. Although her attempt to join the circus was unsuccessful that day, the experience immediately sparked a passion to fly high and push herself beyond what others said she was capable of. Her mother enrolled her in circus gymnastics classes, which began her training and led her to other specialties in various acrobatic and fitness disciplines, helping her develop her range of core strength, power and agility.
Jessie currently lives in Los Angeles. She hopes that she can be a positive influence and show girls and women all over the world that strong is beautiful.Capoeira, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu, Muay Thai, Kobudo
Trivia: is an NCAA scholarship athlete
Best seen in CHUCK- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Cynthia Rothrock is a martial arts expert and athlete, who went on to become a film actress, starring in a number of highly successful martial arts action movies. She first made a name as an action actress in Hong Kong before going on to wow audiences in her home turf. At the time of her popularity, she was well-known as the "Queen of Martial Arts films".
Cynthia Rothrock is the World Champion in martial arts Forms and Weapons (1981-1985). Her goal was to be undefeated and retire after five years. With over 100 competitions, she holds the undefeated worldwide record in martial arts Forms competition. In weapons competition, Cynthia is the first and only woman to win number one in North America against the men-at that time, women had to compete with the men. She holds five Black Belts with a rank of 8th Dan Grandmaster.
Upon completing her goal of being undefeated in competition, she began her martial arts acting career starring in movies produced and filmed in Hong Kong. Her first movie, Yes, Madam alongside Michelle Yeoh, broke box office records making her a massive star in Hong Kong. After three years of living in Hong Kong, finishing seven films, she returned to the United States to continue her acting career. Today she has starred in over 60 movies.
Rothrock has been a role model for women in martial arts and film. She made history by becoming the inaugural woman to grace the cover of Karate Illustrated (August 1981) and holds the distinction of being the first woman featured on the cover three times in the magazine's history.
In March 2024, Black Belt Magazine named Rothrock number one in its list of "The Most Influential Women Martial Artists on the Planet.". Rothrock is a proud inductee into the prestigious Black Belt Hall of Fame, along with Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. In 2016 she was the first martial artist (male or female) to be inducted into the prestigious International Sports Hall of Fame by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dr. Robert Goldman.Tang Soo Do (8th Dan), Tae Kwon Do (4th Dan), Kenpo, Eagle Claw, Wushu, Northern Shaolin, Pai Lum (5-time World Karate Champion; AKA & NKC Champion; Long Beach International, Battle of Atlanta, Diamond Nationals, Fort Worth Pro Am & California Superstars Nationals/Internationals Champion; Black Belt & Kung Fu Hall of Fame entry)
Trivia: is the only world champion in weapons & forms competition to win the title five times consecutively
Best seen in RIGHTING WRONGS- Karen Sheperd is an American actress with numerous credits in film, television and theatre. Her fascination with acting began in high school where she appeared on stage in various plays. Sheperd Is also a World-Class #1 Champion Martial Artist and is in the Black Belt Hall of Fame, alongside icons such as Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Chuck Norris.
Sheperd's Martial Arts Celebrity status springboard her into Hollywood and acting studies. Throughout her acting career, Karen Sheperd has starred and co-starred with luminary award-winners such as Angelina Jolie, Jack Palance, Juan Jett, Madonna, Camilla Sparv, Paul Williams, James Hong, Nancy Kwan, John Hawkes, Pamela Anderson and more.
Karen received rave reviews for her lead theatre roles in Hollywood theatre productions such as "Summer and Smoke" by Tennessee Williams and "In The Boom Boom Room" by David Rabe.
Inspired by Bruce Lee, Karen Sheperd set out to become the first "female Bruce Lee." Sheperd dove into Martial Arts and ultimately became legendary. A trailblazing pioneer, Karen broke barriers and became the first female Champion to be rated #1 in the only ratings system at the time, "Karate Illustrated" magazine (1979 & 1980.) In 1979, at the request of "Karate Illustrated's" editor (Renardo Barden,) Sheperd embarked on what would be an historical and successful campaign to establish official ratings for women when none existed so that more women would compete. The number of women training and competing in 1979 was 10% (Black Belt Magazine). During Karens #1 reign and after, she witnessed the numbers rise to 50% because of her campaign. Inside Kung Fu's" "Star" ratings for women began in 1980, Karen garnering that #1 title as well.
Karen Sheperd was one of the first women to appear on the covers of major Martial Arts magazines such as "Black Belt", "Inside Karate", "KICK", and many more.
Besides acting, Karen has lent her expertise as a fight-choreographer to various film, television and stage productions, including live-action projects at Disneyland, CA.
Karen has been happily married to the same man since 1993, loves animals, has always had numerous rescue cats and dogs, actively serves her church community and still pursues acting.Shotokan Karate, Kajukenbo, Wun Hop Kuen (7th Dan; 2-time US Open Karate Champion; 2-time Diamond Nationals Champion; 2-time West Coast Nationals Champion; Battle of Atlanta, AKA Grand Nationals & US Black Belt Champion; WKC Gold medalist; Black Belt & Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame entry)
Trivia: was the first female Grand Champion of the US Open Karate tournament
Best seen in MISSION OF JUSTICE - Actress
- Producer
- Director
Elodie Yung was born in Paris, France, of Cambodian and French descent. She grew up in Seine-saint-Denis, in Le Bourget, where she practiced karate and obtained her black belt. She graduated from University of La Sorbonne in Paris and has a law degree. She then decided to study acting at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London.Karate, Wushu
Trivia: is also trained in swordplay
Best seen in G.I. JOE: RETALIATION- Stunts
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Born and raised in San Antonio, TX to a Canadian Japanese mother and South African father. Tamiko grew up the youngest of three (with two older brothers) participating in Taekwondo and various sports - volleyball, track & field, softball, and dance. She always had a love for martial arts and currently trains and has trained in Muay Thai, Wushu, kickboxing and boxing.
After graduating with a Bachelor's degree from University of Washington, Tamiko moved to Los Angeles to follow her dreams in entertainment. She has worked on over 100 titles and is currently working as not only a stunt performer but an actress and motion capture performer. You can see her work in a vast variety of projects from movies to television to commercials to online content and video games.Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Northern Shaolin, Wushu
Trivia: also practices boxing
Best seen in SUPERHERO FIGHT CLUB- Actress
- Producer
Swedish actress Noomi Rapace was born in Hudiksvall, Gävleborgs län, Sweden to Swedish actress Nina Norén and Spanish Flamenco singer Rogelio de Badajoz (Rogelio Durán). Her parents did not stay together, and when she was five she moved to Iceland with her mother and stepfather, where she lived for three years. When she was eight she was cast in a small role in the Icelandic film 'Í skugga hrafnsins', and this sparked her love of acting. At 15 she left home and joined the Stockholm Theatre School.
Rapace won the recurring role of Lucinda Gonzales in the Swedish TV series Tre kronor (1994), and also became a respected stage performer. She won critical acclaim for playing the leading role in 2007's Daisy Diamond (2007). In 2009, Rapace came to the attention of international audiences for her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009). Her performance was widely praised, and she won the Best Actress prize at Sweden's prestigious Guldbagge Awards. She went on to reprise the role in the sequels, The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009) and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009).
Rapace made her English-language film debut in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) alongside Robert Downey Jr. She was also cast as Elizabeth Shaw in Ridley Scott's Prometheus (2012).Kickboxing, Muay Thai
Trivia: trained in martial arts for seven months in preparation for the "Millennium" trilogy
Best seen in THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE- Stunts
- Actress
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
As an established and extremely talented stunt double and actress, Zoe Bell has made a name for herself through her unparalleled dedication, skills, and focus.
Zoe Bell was born on Waiheke Island, New Zealand, to Tish, a nurse, and Andrew Bell, a doctor. She has a background in gymnastics and martial arts. She began working as a stunt woman when she doubled Lucy Lawless on the cult favorite TV series Xena: Warrior Princess (1995). Bell also appeared as a double in the ABC thriller Alias (2001) and on an episode of Cleopatra 2525 in 2000 as a double for Vicki Pratti. In the action packed-documentary Double Dare (2004), Bell, along with legendary stunt-woman Jeannie Epper, give an insight into the career of women who take falls and punches for a living. Double Dare also gives a glimpse into the struggles of stunt-women to stay thin, employed, and sane in a male-dominated career.
After the cancellation of Xena, Bell's next gig was working with Quentin Tarantino in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004), playing the stunt double for Uma Thurman's role, The Bride. Bell was nominated for her work in Kill Bill, Vol. 1 in the categories of Best Stunt by a Stunt Woman and Best Fight for the Taurus World Stunt Awards, both of which she would win the following year for Kill Bill: Vol. 2. Bell also showed off her stunt-woman skills as a double for Sharon Stone in Halle Barry's Catwoman (2004).
Bell was injured in the final days of filming, requiring surgery, but she has since recovered and returned to work. Bell appeared along with legendary stunt woman Jeannie Epper in Amanda Micheli's acclaimed documentary Double Dare (2004), which offers a glimpse at the lives and careers of both women, as well as the friendship they share.
Bell debuted her acting career, with her already famous stunt skills, in the double feature Grindhouse (2007) written by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. She was hand-picked, by Tarentino himself, to star in his segment of the double feature, Death Proof (2007), about four women working in the film industry that are stalked by a murderer in his Death Proof car.
Bell, a native of New Zealand, resides in Los Angeles but hopes to someday own a home in New Zealand.Tae Kwon Do, Wushu
Trivia: began her stunt career after she acquired the phone number of an injured stuntman being treated at her father's emergency room
Best seen in ANGEL OF DEATH- Stunts
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Sophia Crawford was born in Hammersmith, London, and is one of Triplets. She left England in 1986 and took an incredible journey on a bus overland from London to India. After spending some time in India and Nepal, Sophia headed to Thailand, where she began her movie career. At first she was an editorial model and an extra in American productions such as: Kickboxer (1989) and Around the World in 80 Days (2004). After working with several crews from Hong Kong, Sophia decided it was time to make a move and try her luck in Hong Kong cinema. She went around to the various studios looking for work. Her first role was New Kid in town (1990) (New Kids in Town). The director had asked her if she could fight. Thinking this would be easy, she said yes and was consequently killed off because she was so terrible. Humiliated, yet determined, Sophia had found her niche. For the next five years, she studied Martial Arts and stunts with some of the top names in the business. She co-starred in more than thirty movies and became the first Western woman to join an Asian Stunt team. Sophia moved to the United States in 1993 and has appeared in hundreds of movies and television shows. Including; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993) and WMAC Masters (1995). She was Sarah Michelle Gellar's stunt double on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) for four years and has helped numerous actors with her Martial arts prowess. She is currently President of the United Stuntwomen's Association.Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Trivia: has doubled over 45 different actresses during her stunt career
Best seen in US SEALS 2- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Summer is a native of San Antonio, Texas. She's been a ballerina most of her life. Her debut was in various commercials and a guest appearance on the WB's Angel (1999). She has gone on to star on the TV series Firefly (2002) as well as its follow-up movie Serenity (2005) and the TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008).Wushu, Kickboxing
Trivia: was formerly a dancer, until an ankle injury began her acting career
Best seen in SERENITY- Actress
- Director
- Producer
For Diana Lee Inosanto, joining the cast of the new Star Wars series, Ahsoka and becoming part of the iconic Star Wars franchise may seem like a dream, but it is very much the real-life culmination of 30 years of dedication and hard work. Originally, Diana was featured in The Mandalorian for the show's second season as the Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth after doing most every job Hollywood has to offer as a struggling actress caring for a child with Autism, from stunt person to director. But mostly, Diana credits her success to having the good fortune of being raised in a charmed circle of actors, renowned martial artists and stunt-people who paved the way for so much of the excitement in today's action filled media.
Diana Lee Inosanto is the daughter of martial arts legend, Dan Inosanto and his wife Sue Inosanto. She is also known as the goddaughter of global icon, the late Bruce Lee (hence, Diana Lee). As an American actress, director, writer, martial artist, stunt woman, and children's book author, Diana paved a way in the Hollywood ecosystem that is unique, modern, and inclusive.
During her youth, Diana began learning the Theater Arts under the guidance of her aunt, Asian American actress, Lilia Inosanto, also known by her stage name Lona Nai . Upon graduation, her Aunt Lilia "Lona Nai" guided Diana to study with famed Broadway casting director and acting teacher, the late Michael Shurtleff, (author of the renowned book 'Audition' a bible for aspiring actors.) Years later, she would go on to study with Asian American character actor, Tzi Ma through East West Players' workshops and joined the Lodestone Theater Ensemble, continuing to grow as an actress, participating in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary plays. She furthered her training in the Michael Chekhov method with Lisa Dalton and got the basics of Improv at Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Training Center under Johnny Ray Meeks.
Diana was also a fight and stunt choreographer for several stage productions. This would pave a road for years to come with Diana becoming a "Sensei to the Stars," preparing the who's who in Hollywood for their action roles. Stars like Melissa McCarthy (Spy), Rosa Salazar (Alita:Battle Angel), Lesley-Ann Brandt (Lucifer), Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters) and Aaron Eckhart & Socratis Otto (I, Frankenstein) were some of the performers under her tutelage.
Throughout her professional career in Hollywood, when it came to acting and directing, Diana discovered that the Hollywood system was not particularly inclusive. As a young mother of a son with Autism, the road was not easy. In time Diana met her future husband, Ron Balicki, a former deputy sheriff and renowned martial artist turned stuntman, action coordinator & choreographer in Hollywood. Throughout their years together, they formed MARS Action Group and would teach martial arts across the country and internationally.
After being spotted demonstrating a fight scene with Ron Balicki, the producers of the movie 'Barb Wire' asked her to take on a role originally cast for a man. The scene, featuring New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison (known internationally for portraying Jango Fett in Star Wars: Episode II and Episode III) gave Diana her first break as a stunt woman. Diana straight away became the martial arts double for actress Sarah Michelle Gellar for the presentation to pitch Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a TV Show, directed by Joss Whedon. This would be the beginning of Diana's years as a stunt woman in Hollywood where she found tremendous success working on popular films and TV shows.
Taking inspiration from notable indie filmmakers she got to know over time, Diana decided to seize control to create her own film project. Making the most of her stunt work, Inosanto learned about the filming process by watching and absorbing while on set the craft from such A-list directors, like Ang Lee, John Woo, Barry Sonnenfeld, and Chris Columbus. By 2010, Inosanto's first Indie film, The Sensei, a film she wrote, directed, and starred, would be one of the earliest digitally released films distributed on Netflix and I-Tunes. Filmed on a tiny budget, The Sensei took place in the 1980's and tells the story of a gay teenager, bullied in a rural town during the height of the AIDS epidemic. The film would go on to win awards and accolades at film festivals like the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival where she had her world premiere at the DGA, New York's Newfest, San Francisco's Frameline, Hoboken International Film Festival, Philadelphia Asian American Film Fest, Germany's Verzaubert Film Festival and LA Femme International Film Fest to name a few. The film, supported by the Matthew Shepard Foundation, earned Diana the Asian American Justice Center, 2011 American Courage Award, presented at the time by Tom Perez (DNC Chairman, who was at that time Assistant Attorney General for Civil rights) in Washington, D.C., where several members of Congress and humanitarian activists were present. Shortly thereafter, Diana became the first woman to receive the Maverick Award at the AOF International Film Festival.
In later years, she would also participate as an activist for several causes, including the recent participation in the nationwide Wash-the-Hate PSA, a campaign that would address the growing hate incidents against Asian Americans since the outbreak of Covid-19. She was asked to speak with other prominent Asian Americans in the film and fashion industry, speaking in front of a virtual panel for NIKE 's employees worldwide. In 2016, during President Obama's administration, Diana was also a guest at the White House joining Asian American leaders and Influencers for the Filipino History Month, championing the Congressional Gold Medal Bill for WWII Filipino American Veterans.
As a woman of many interests, Diana has now released a children's book, teaming up with her adult Autistic son, an illustrator, S.G Inosanto and telling their story in The Curious Mind of Sebastian-an amusing tale about Diana as a young mom, curiously trying to understand the mysteries of Autism through her four-year-old son's quirky behavior. Sebastian's inability to verbally express his love led Inosanto on an incredible journey to find out that love will always find a way to speak.
In 2018, Diana joined Oscar winning producer, Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan) and Matt Jackson (Molly's Game) in developing the story on her father Dan Inosanto's work creating a secret training program for the 1977 Dallas Cowboys that helped them to win Super Bowl XII.
Diana feels that her personal philosophy of life is best expressed by Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American female astronaut: "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."Jeet Kune Do, Wushu, Escrima, Muay Thai, Pentjak Silat, Savate
Trivia: is the goddaughter of Bruce Lee and childhood friend of Brandon Lee
Best seen in THE SENSEI- Actress
- Producer
- Director
FYI: I've written my own BIO. To be honest it felt more sincere than pretending like I hired some journalist to do a ton of research and come up with a non biased presentation. So here it goes.
Nia Peeples- What others have said: is an American actress, singer, dancer. For more than 30 years Nia has graced the screen with her talent and intelligence, her fearlessness and compassion, and her beauty. (Why thank you) Most known for her roles in the hit TV series Fame, Walker Texas Ranger, and Pretty Little Liars as well as her jaunt through the music industry with her number 1 record Trouble and the 3 music shows she hosted in that era, Nia is one of the first multi-racial performers to cross all genres and all platforms helping to lay the groundwork for bridging the gap between ethnic performers and leading roles in Hollywood.
Recently, with her son well on his music path, her daughter heading off to college, and her 4th marriage ending, Nia sold everything and went on "walk about" to realign with her greater purpose. After three years of wandering, Nia has returned with one book under her belt, The Little Apple Tree, and is in the middle of writing her second, "Confessions of a Serial Monogamist, Journey Through the Men I loved to the Me I Love, for which she interviewed all her significant others.
Nia's passion is empowering women and students. She is also a keynote speaker, works very closely with My Saint My Hero creating and launching empowering lines of jewelry, and continues to perform live.
(2018) Nia currently lives in Topanga, CA when she's not fasting at an ashram or studying quantum physics and sacred geometry:)Tang Soo Do, Shito-Ryu Karate, Wushu
Trivia: has studied the martial arts under Bruce Fontaine, Fumio Demura, and Chuck Norris, among others
Best seen in HALF PAST DEAD- Actress
- Stunts
- Director
Actress, stunt woman, and martial artist Marjean Holden was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and raised in Vail, Colorado. She started acting from the age of 9, well being from the family of entertainers, she already knew her profession. As a youngster, she showed multiple skills in her school plays, and also in sports. Later she started martial arts training in boxing and Wun Hop Kuen Do, which she used in most of her action-fighting films. With her athletic abilities and martial arts, she entered in the world of motion pictures as an actress and stunt woman. Some of her stunt work was in Bulletproof (1996), Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) and Blade (1998).
After few films, she made her first professional debut in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) and made appearances in such films as Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992) and SF film Nemesis (1992).
Her memorable roles were in Ballistic (1995), in which all martial arts movie goers knows that she had a match against body builder lady Corinna Everson. Next is The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997), where she portrayed Sheeva and John Carpenter's horror Vampires (1998) as one of the vampire masters. As for her TV appearances, she was in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) and Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (1999), but she became famous for her roles in Crusade (1999) and BeastMaster (1999) TV series. She played a supporting role besides Bruce Willis in Hostage (2005). She recently completed working on "Bring me the Head of Lance Henriksen" with Michael Worth.Wun Hop Kuen
Trivia: prefers to do her own stunts
Best seen in BALLISTIC- Stunts
- Actress
- Producer
Lauren Mary Kim is the faceless action hero who brings adrenaline to films, television and video games. As a child she trained in acrobatics and dance and originally moved to Los Angeles to become a dancer where she landed her first job as a Laker girl. Soon after, she trained in acting, martial arts and stunt work. She is best known for her work on The Mandalorian, Clone Wars Season 7, Furious 7, The Last of Us 2, Mortal Kombat 11 and doubled as Elektra on Netflix's hit series Daredevil and Defenders. She specializes in several fighting techniques including Taekwondo, Wushu, Silat, Filipino Martial Arts, Jeet Kune Do and Capoeira.Tae Kwon Do, Wushu, Muay Thai
Trivia: is a former NBA dancer
Best seen in BACKLASH- Actress
- Producer
Kristin Kreuk was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to Deanna Che, who is of Chinese ancestry, and Peter Kreuk, who is of Dutch descent. Her parents are landscape architects. She attended and graduated from Eric Hamber Secondary School. Although she did some stage work in school, she focused more on her studies. She described herself as shy and boring.
For her first professional work, she went to an open casting audition for Edgemont (2000), a teen drama series aired on CBC Television in Canada. She plays the role as "Laurel Yeung". Laurel was the last main character to be cast because the casting director was having a problem finding an actress. Fortunately, for them (and us), they found Kristin just in time.
Her career was set to take off when she landed on the highly acclaimed serial drama series for The WB, Smallville (2001). It follows the story of "Clark Kent" in his pre-Superman days in a small town of Smallville, Kansas. Kreuk played the role as "Lana Lang", Clark Kent's object of desire before he meets "Lois Lane".
Smallville (2001) proved to be a giant step for Kristin's acting career, as she landed several interviews with several magazines, including YM (Young and Modern) and Rolling Stone. She also did a commercial for Neutrogena, popular for its skin care products.Karate (purple belt)
Trivia: also practices gymnastics
Best seen in STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN LI- Daughter of English hair stylist Vidal Sassoon and American actress Beverly Adams, she was born and lived her tender years in Manhattan, New York, then in Los Angeles, California.
At 14, she dropped out of Beverly Hills High School to pursue a modeling career in New York, due to the persuasion of talent agent John Casablancas. She signed with the Prestige Agency and was considered with their best junior models, svelte and with beautiful gray eyes, and long reddish hair. She traveled to London with her father, and made that city her new hometown while modeling in Europe.
During a visit to Los Angeles, she was invited to do a film test, and soon she earned a nickname, the title of her first big movie, Tuff Turf (1985). Managing her schedules, she continued her fashion model career while taking part in TV series like Amazing Stories (1985), Out of This World (1987), Hardball (1989), and The Fanelli Boys (1990).
The big movies came next, and the first of a series of five films she signed for with producer Roger Corman. Angelfist (1993) was not her best film, but it certainly became popular and resisted two decades in video, portraying an undercover narcotics agent, Catara Lange (a name reminiscent of her real name, and Los Angeles), in the milieu of competitive and extreme martial arts. She invested for her new character by studying tae kwon do and arnis de mano, but did not fulfill her contract due to her premature death, during a New Year's Eve party.
Married twice, Catya Sassoon had three children: a son born in London, in 1995, and twin daughters Mycca and Syke born in the spring of 2000.Karate (WKA Champion)
Trivia: was also a model and a rock singer
Best seen in ANGELFIST - Actress
- Additional Crew
- Location Management
Sunny, dynamic and beautiful slender blonde actress Jillian Kesner was born on August 9, 1949 in Portsmouth, Virginia and grew up primarily in Denver, Colorado. Her father was a Navy officer. Jillian received a B.A. in business from a Colorado university in 1967. In 1969 Kesner moved to Los Angeles, California and worked as a model prior to embarking on an acting career in both movies and television. Jillian made her impressive film debut as fiery juvenile delinquent Carrie in the fun drive-in exploitation romp "The Student Body." (She met her future husband and noted cinematographer Gary Graver while acting in this particular picture.) Other memorable movie roles include the sweetly kooky, yet intelligent Angel in the amusing "Starhops," tough, but sexy karate instructor Susanne Carter in the hugely enjoyable "Firecracker," feisty martial arts expert Cookie Winchell in the gloriously tasteless "Raw Force," and alluring vampiress Claudia in the lowbrow hoot "Beverly Hills Vamp." Kesner was a regular cast member of the short-lived sitcom "Co-ed Fever." Perhaps best known to the general public as Fonzie's girlfriend Lorraine on "Happy Days," Jillian made guest appearances on such TV shows as "S.W.A.T.," "The Blue Knight," "The Rockford Files," "Three's Company," "Mork & Mindy," and "T.J. Hooker." Outside of her acting credits, Jillian also handled production coordinator chores on a handful of low-budget straight-to-video movies that were directed by Graver. In addition, both Kesner and Graver tried to complete Orson Welles's unfinished film "The Other Side of the Wind." Following Graver's death in 2006, Jillian continued her efforts to preserve Welles's cinematic legacy. Jillian Kesner died at age 58 from a staph infection on December 5, 2007 in Irvine, California.Karate
Trivia: she and her husband pieced together footage the latter shot for Orson Welles' unfinished film THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND, which they intended to eventually release
Best seen in OPERATION COBRA- Actress
- Stunts
Hailing from Sydney, Australia, she is a former undefeated kumite fighter and 1988 World Karate Champion. She participated in state, national, and international tournaments, receiving the Most Outstanding Competitor Award at the World Karate Championships in Japan. Her martial arts skills also include Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Grappling, Kung Fu (Wushu and Shaolin Eagle claw) and weapons (fencing, firearms, Chinese broad sword and whip chain). A member of the Hong Kong Stuntman's Association with special training in Hong Kong, Kim-Maree's expertise was showcased in action movies where she appeared and fought with many of the industry's top stars- Cynthia Khan, Simon Yam, Michelle Yeoh, Frankie Chan, Fan Siu Wong, Hwang Jang Lee, Jackie Chan, Lee Majors and Jean Claude Van damme.
Kim-Maree is the CEO of Signal 8 Security head quartered in Hong Kong. She is trained in Threat management, Protective driving, Electronic counter surveillance, IED search and recognition, Defense and restraint techniques, Unarmed combat and Tactical firearms. Her extensive experience in the security industry has led her to provide protection services from low to high risk security details with clients ranging from fortune 100s, dignitaries to high profile celebrities.Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Wushu, Shaolin Eagle Claw (WKC Champion)
Trivia: is the director of Signal 8 Security in China and Hong Kong
Best seen in FUN AND FURY- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Bobbie Phillips is an actress, animal advocate, and a true Chameleon (1998); both on screen and off. Bobbie has portrayed a variety of characters in various genres throughout her career. Widely recognized for her award winning role as the insect loving entomologist, Dr. Bambi Berenbaum on War of the Coprophages (1996); Phillips also received industry praise for her turn as Julie Costello on Steven Bochco's Murder One (1995); A genre favorite as the first female crow, "Talon", on The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998); Phillips left Hollywood in 2003 when Bobbie and her husband traveled to Costa Rica and then Fiji to begin Anthony's surfing career. The couple traveled extensively between Canada, Fiji, Australia and Mexico before Bobbie returned to acting in 2014. Bobbie Phillips continues to create in her unique style on diverse projects and she always reinvents herself like a great actress should.Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: was trained in martial arts by Billy Blanks while filming TC 2000
Best seen in CHAMELEON 3- At an early age Francoise passed on an opportunity to study in music and chose to persue a degree in Political Science. It was during those years, Francoise started with modeling. That career didn't last long, but she did get the opportunity to star with Jackie Chan in Rumble in the Bronx. For her work, she earned two Hong Kong Film Award nominations and a star was born.
Francoise was not a martial artist, but she trained in screen-fighting. With her athletic skills she ended up doing various martial arts movies, including two with the legendary Jet Li.Wushu
Trivia: is a student of Bruce Fontaine
Best seen in ROMEO MUST DIE - Stunts
- Additional Crew
- Actress
Andrea VanEpps was born in Salem, Oregon, but as a toddler she moved with her family to a small town in Montana where she was first introduced to the stage and all of the physical activities that shaped her future in entertainment.
As small as the town may have been it had a lot to offer. She practiced martial arts, shooting everything from the smallest pistols to semi-auto weapons (it was Montana after all), hiking and climbing all the beautiful mountains and rock faces that surrounded the valley and everything else that she never knew that people pay to do elsewhere.
Amidst her pursuit of an acting career she discovered the otherwise unknown world of stunts. It didn't take long for her to fall in love with the physicality and the precision involved in stunts. And thus began the career of stunt acting for Andrea VanEpps.Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Judo
Trivia: trained under Geo Corvera, Arnold Chon, Chad Stahelski, Koby Azarly, and Esteban Cueto
Best seen in SHADOWS IN PARADISE- Actress
- Producer
- Stunts
Kimberly Estrada is an American actress known for playing a wide range of roles, from professional boxer to vixen. Estrada is an ethnic blend of primarily Chinese, Spanish and Native descent and has an extensive background in martial arts and combat including Shaolin Kempo, Jeet Kun Do Kung Fu, Jiu-jitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing and Western Boxing. An accomplished athlete, Estrada was the only girl playing on her high school's boys soccer team and then played soccer for the University of Maryland, College Park at the NCAA Division 1 level. At the University of Maryland, Estrada earned scholar-athlete awards, graduating cum laude with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice.
Estrada has been directed by Academy Award winners Clint Eastwood, Bill Condon, Oliver Stone and the Coen Brothers. She was cast and directed by Clint Eastwood in Best Picture Million Dollar Baby, as one of Hilary Swank's opponents. She was Spokesmodel #16 on the first 45 episodes of NBC's Deal or No Deal and was named as one of People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People in 2006.
Estrada has been a guest on Good Morning America and The Best Damn Sports Show Period. In 8 episodes of the CW's Easy Money, Estrada (as Cherise Buffkin) had the opportunity to work with Laurie Metcalf, who played her mother-in-law. Recent TV appearances include: Hawaii 5-0, Chance, Hit the Floor and Criminal Minds.
Over the last 10 years, melding a strong business background with her artistic/creative side, Estrada followed another passion and expanded to working behind the camera, as a producer in the film and commercial worlds. Estrada has produced commercials and digital media for an extensive list of clients.Tae Kwon Do, Jeet Kun Do, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Shaolin Kenpo
Trivia: studied under Dave Lea and Ed Monaghan
Best seen in DISTURBANCE- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Born to immigrants in New York City, Lucy Liu has always tried to balance an interest in her cultural heritage with a desire to move beyond a strictly Asian-American experience. Her mother, Cecilia, a biochemist, is from Beijing & her father, Tom Liu, a civil engineer, is from Shanghai. Once relegated to "ethnic" parts, the energetic actress is finally earning her stripes as an across-the-board leading lady.
She graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1986 & enrolled in NYU. However, she was discouraged by the dark and sarcastic atmosphere, so she transferred to the University of Michigan after her freshman year. She graduated w/ a degree in Asian Languages & Cultures, managing to squeeze in some additional training in dance, voice, fine arts & acting. During her senior year, she auditioned for a small part in a production of Alice in Wonderland and walked away with the lead. Encouraged by the experience, she decided to take the plunge into professional acting. She moved to L.A., splitting her time between auditions & food service day jobs. She eventually scored a guest appearance as a waitress on Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990). That performance led to more walk-on parts in shows like NYPD Blue (1993), ER (1994) & The X-Files (1993). In 1996, she was cast as an ambitious college student on Rhea Perlman's ephemeral sitcom Pearl (1996).
She first appeared on the big screen as an ex-girlfriend in Jerry Maguire (1996) (she had previously filmed a scene in the indie Bang (1995), but it was shelved for 2 years). She then waded through a series of supporting parts in small films before landing her big break on Ally McBeal (1997). She initially auditioned for the role of Nelle Porter, which went to Portia de Rossi. However, writer-producer David E. Kelley was so impressed w/ her that he promised to write a part for her in an upcoming episode. The part turned out to be that of growling, ill-tempered lawyer Ling Woo, which she filled w/ such aplomb that she was signed on as a regular cast member.
The "Ally" win gave her film career a much-needed boost-in 1999, she was cast as a dominatrix in the Mel Gibson action flick Payback (1999) & as a hitchhiker in the ill-received boxing saga Play It to the Bone (1999). The following year brought even larger roles: first as the kidnapped Princess Pei Pei in Jackie Chan's western Shanghai Noon (2000), then as one-third of the comely crime-fighting trio in Charlie's Angels (2000).
When she's not hissing at clients or throwing well-coiffed punches, she keeps busy w/ an eclectic mix of off-screen hobbies. She practices the martial art of Kali-Eskrima-Silat (knife-and-stick fighting), skis, rock climbs, rides horses &plays the accordion. In 1993, she exhibited a collection of multimedia art pieces at the Cast Iron Gallery in SoHo (New York), after which she won a grant to study & create art in China. Her hectic schedule doesn't leave much time for romantic intrigue, but she says she prefers to keep that side of her life uncluttered.Silat, Escrima
Trivia: studied martial arts under Dan Inosanto
Best seen in CHARLIE'S ANGELS- Actress
- Producer
- Talent Agent
is a retired American professional wrestler. She is best known under her ring names Madusa (shorthand for Made in the USA) or Alundra Blayze. Her early career was spent in the American Wrestling Association, where she held the AWA World Women's Championship one time. In 1988, Miceli was also the first woman to be awarded Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Rookie of the Year. The following year, she signed a contract with All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, making her the first foreign wrestler to do so. She later joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where she was a member of the Dangerous Alliance, a group of wrestlers managed by Paul E. Dangerously. In 1993, she joined the rival World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under the name Alundra Blayze. In the WWF, she feuded with Bull Nakano and Bertha Faye, while holding the WWF Women's Championship a total of three times. Two years after joining the WWF, Miceli returned to WCW, showing up on an episode of Monday Nitro to throw the WWF Women's Championship belt into a trash can. For the next six years, she worked in WCW, where she feuded with Bull Nakano, Oklahoma, and became the first women to hold the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship. After training wrestlers at the WCW Power Plant, she left the company in 2001.
In addition to wrestling, Miceli competes in the world of monster trucks. She drives a truck named Madusa, which was also her ring name for much of her professional wrestling career. She won the 2004 co-championship at the Monster Jam World Finals for freestyle in the first-ever three-way tie. The following year, she was the only female competitor in the Super Bowl of Motorsports, and she won the Racing Championship in the Monster Jam World Finals.Muay Thai
Trivia: is a former pro wrestler and 3-time WWF Women's Champion
Best seen in SHOOTFIGHTER II- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Laura Niles is an actress, stand-up comedian, writer, and director from Los Angeles, California.
Laura made her start in entertainment as a model and actress, and joined Screen Actors Guild in 1997. She has been cast in numerous TV and film roles, notably as the boxing instructor in Californication.
On that set, a serendipitous meeting with comic and boxing enthusiast Garry Shandling led Laura to pursue Stand-up Comedy.
Laura now regularly performs stand-up comedy at major clubs in Los Angeles, including Ice House, Comedy Store, The Improv, and Flappers. She has a Youtube series called "DIY with Laura," which explores philosophy through humor. She produces a Podcast called "Texts from the Crypt."
Behind the scenes, Laura has worked as Video Editor and Program Coordinator to IATSE's principal lobbyist, active in facilitating AB1839, the Film and TV Tax Credit Incentive program.
Laura has a Bachelor's in International Relations and Mandarin Chinese from the University of Southern California.
Laura is an avid boxer. As a martial artist, Laura practiced Shaolin Kung Fu since age 14, and has a 3rd degree black belt.Shaolin Kung Fu
Trivia: is also an amateur boxer
Best seen in TAI CHI WARRIORS- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Award-winning actress, director, producer, Katheryn Winnick, is best known for starring and directing the critically acclaimed, Emmy award-winning television series "Vikings." Winnick made her directorial debut in sixth and final season which earned her "Best Director" at the 2020 WIN Awards. She produced and starred in Sean Penn's "Flag Day" that premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and recently starred in David E. Kelley's critically acclaimed series "Big Sky" that was ABC's most watched and highest-rated debut since 2017. She started her production company, Kat Scratch Inc., to champion strong female-lead stories.Tae Kwon Do (3rd Dan), Karate (2nd Dan)
Trivia: had opened three martial arts schools by age 21
Best seen in KILLERS- Actress
- Stunts
She enjoys snow-boarding, reading, eating veggie-burgers, drinking smoothies, hanging out with her friends, acting, and making creative works such as beading jewelry, painting, writing poetry, sewing funky dresses, and photographing interesting images. Her heritage is Korean, and she speaks some Korean and Spanish. In her late teen years she did some modeling, but otherwise has always been into the performing/entertaining field. U.C.R., B.A. in psychology completed, and C.S.P.P., PhD in psychology. in progress for her education.Karate
Trivia: trained under California's Japanese Karate Association chapter
Best seen in POWER RANGERS IN SPACE- Actress
- Make-Up Department
Tanit Phoenix was born on 24 September 1980 in Durban, Natal, South Africa. She is an actress, known for Gallowwalkers (2012), Death Race 2 (2010) and Hardcore Henry (2015). She has been married to Sharlto Copley since 15 February 2016. They have one child.Muay Thai, Tai Chi
Trivia: also enjoys skydiving, scuba diving, bungee jumping, mountain biking, ballet, and horseback riding
Best seen in DEATH RACE 2- Stunts
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Nikki Berwick was born on 24 December 1978 in Rochford, Essex, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Die Another Day (2002), Skyfall (2012) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).Tang Soo Do (WAKO & WKA Champion)
Trivia: also enjoys gymnastics and horseback riding
Best seen in EXTREME CHALLENGE- Stunts
- Actress
- Producer
Stefi was born and raised in Bulgaria by her parents, Bulgarian Figure-skating Champion Maria Vulkova, and Mathematics Professor Veselin Georchev. Stefi changed her name to Stephanie Cheeva when she came to LA in 1996. She had to learn how to speak English, before she could join and graduate from the Joanne Baron & D.W. Brown school of acting.
Stephanie Cheeva/McNeal produced and acted in the action thriller Black Cobra - a Lionsgate/Shoreline release in 2012. She is also producing the feature films Angel City, Major, Mr. Sinclair, and Quickfire 3D, as well as the film Pure. She is a Co-Founder and Vise President of Love Never Fails World Charity - a non-profit organization committed to the abolishment of Child-Sex Trafficking.
In 2003, Stephanie was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall Of Fame. She was also presented with the Chinese Martial Arts Academy Award from the Hawaiian International Martial Arts Society, and was awarded Female Action Star of the Year. Currently holder of a Fifth Degree Black Belt, by her late teens Stephanie had won 21 gold medals and competed all over the world.
In 1996, Stephanie came to Los Angeles and two years later, graduated from the "Joanne Baron & D.W. Brown" school of acting. Her acting and action skills provided her with the opportunities to be a part of film and TV shows such as: The Ultimate Game, Martial Law, Nash Bridges, VIP, Crossing Jordan, Exorcism, Longshot, Last Call, Miss Congeniality 2, Shallow Ground, The Last Eve, Tequila Express, as well as several national commercials and numerous video-games: Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Rise to Honor, Spawn: Armageddon, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, Resident Evil to name a few.Tae Kwon Do (3rd Dan; 8-time Bulgarian National Champion), Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Trivia: began training in the martial arts at age 9
Best seen in THE ULTIMATE GAME- Actress
- Producer
- Stunts
The youngest of three girls, Christina was born just outside Toronto. She carried a double major of theater and dance at the prestigious Arts York at Unionville High School. She went on to further her training at the Ryerson Theatre School of Toronto, among such alumni as Eric McCormack and David James Elliott. In addition to her film and television credits, Christina has appeared in numerous national theater productions, ranging from classical productions of William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" to Jim Cartwright's raw and dirty "Road".
Christina completed the last of 13 episodes, as "astrobiologist Jen Crane", in the FTVS/ABC series, Defying Gravity (2009), a one-hour drama about a team of astronauts on a six-year mission in outer space.
On completion of Defying Gravity (2009), Christina guest-starred as "Zoey Kruger", a cop accused of killing her family on the 4th season of Showtime's Dexter (2006). After "Dexter", she joined the cast of the hit series, 24 (2001), as "Secret Service agent Molly O'Connor", as well as dropping by The Mentalist (2008) and filming The Stepson (2010), with Adam Beach.
Christina also guest-starred, as "Marine Gunnery Sergeant Georgia Wooten", in the NCIS (2003) episode, Freedom (2011).
Prior to Defying Gravity (2009), she starred as "Vicki Nelson", an ex-cop turned private investigator specializing in solving supernatural crimes in 22 episodes of the Lifetime series, Blood Ties (2007).
In addition to starring in several pilots, including the "most-watched-never-aired" pilot on You Tube; Nikki and Nora (2004), she co-created and developed an original script for Sony Television and Barry Sonnenfeld with her Nikki and Nora (2004) show runner Nancylee Myatt (South of Nowhere (2005), 3Way (2008)) and co-star Liz Vassey (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)).Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Kickboxing
Trivia: while filming a movie, stunt coordinator Steve McMichael urged Cox to kick him in the ribs without padded protection; she kicked him so hard that he retains bone spurs on his side
Best seen in BLOOD TIES- Daniella Deutscher was born on 4 October 1975 in Bozeman, Montana, USA. She is an actress, known for Aquaman (2006), Hang Time (1995) and Drifting School (1995). She has been married to Jay Hernandez since 2006.Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: formerly worked as a model in Japan
Best seen in SPECIAL FORCES - Stunts
- Actress
- Producer
Mickey Facchinello is known for Wonder Woman (2017), Black Widow (2021) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020).Shorei-Ryu & Shotokan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kobudo
Trivia: is also proficient with the bullwhip
Best seen in SLUG STREET SCRAPPERS- Producer
- Director
- Actress
Soon Hee Newbold was adopted as an infant by the Newbold family and grew up, with two sisters, in Frederick, Maryland. She began playing piano at age five and violin at age seven winning many prestigious competitions and performing as a concert artist at an early age. As a soloist and in professional orchestras throughout the world, Soon Hee has appeared in venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Disney World, Aspen, and Tanglewood.
In high school, her interests included science, languages, and drama. She studied German, French, and Russian and completed an internship in AIDS and Cancer research at the National Institute of Health in Ft. Detrick, Maryland.
Soon Hee received her Bachelor of Music degree from James Madison University where she concentrated on film scoring, orchestration, and audio production. Upon graduation, she worked in entertainment for Walt Disney World and performed in the various symphonies in Florida. Ms. Newbold also produced albums and wrote for many recording projects and ensembles. Published through the FJH Music Company, her musical compositions can be heard around the world in film, orchestras, and other performing groups.
As an actress, Ms. Newbold expanded her experiences to film and television. She got her first film break in The Waterboy (1998) and her first television role in Camp Tanglefoot: It All Adds Up (1999).
Sadly, her mother was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, a terminal, devastating genetic neurological illness for which there is little treatment and no cure. She wrote the popular song "Endless Dreams," and dedicated it to those affected by Huntington's to spread awareness and hope.Tae Kwon Do (3rd Dan), Hapkido (2nd Dan), Kig Mu Do
Trivia: is also a concert violinist
Best seen in WARRIOR OR ASSASSIN- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Missi Pyle was born Andrea Kay Pyle on November 16, 1972 in Houston, Texas, and was raised in Memphis, Tennessee. The daughter of Linda and Frank Pyle, she has four older siblings, sisters Debbie and Julie, and brothers Sam and Paul. Pyle attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and graduated in 1995. Since then, Pyle has had a significant career in many films and television series. She has also established in parallel a singing career as a member of the country-rock band Smith & Pyle with actress Shawnee Smith.
Pyle has started an acting career playing a minor role in the comedy film As Good as It Gets (1997) starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. Her following notable roles were in the sci-fi parody Galaxy Quest (1999), Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House (2002) where she played her first role as a villain, Tim Burton films Big Fish (2003) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) starring Johnny Depp and Christopher Lee, Just My Luck (2006) starring Lindsay Lohan, and Soccer Mom (2008) where she had a double role. Pyle has also played guest roles on many television series such as Mad About You (1992) also starring Helen Hunt, Frasier (1993), The One with Ross' Teeth (1999), Ally McBeal (1997), three episodes of Two and a Half Men (2003), three episodes of Boston Legal (2004), Grey's Anatomy (2005), two episodes of Heroes (2006), and two episodes of The Mentalist (2008). Pyle is also an occasional voice actress, and has voiced characters in one episode of series Family Guy (1999) and two episodes of American Dad! (2005).
Pyle began a career as a singer when she met Shawnee Smith in 2007 while filming an ABC comedy pilot. Pyle stated that her dream was to be in a rock band, and Smith gave her the opportunity by creating the country-rock band Smith & Pyle in Los Angeles, California. Their debut album "It's OK to Be Happy" (2008) was recorded in Joshua Tree, California and was released under their own record label when they became business partners. Their first live performance was in Texas on January 18, 2008 and since then, the band performed in many other states, especially in West Virginia, until May 29, 2010 in California. In 2011, the actresses officially disbanded before their second album was completed.Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: is also a standup comedian
Best seen in BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE- Stunts
- Actress
- Visual Effects
Chloe began her training at the age of 8 after watching her brother training. She began with Tang Soo Do and at the age of 9 she was told that she was better than average. Ath the age of 10 she was already competing and won her first WKA British title at the age of 12. She was also selected to represent Britain at the World Championships.
In the following years, Chloe became 'hot material'. She won many more titles and at the age of 13 she was already a world champion. Her pretty face and fancy kicks appeared on many magazine covers and Chloe invented her trademark-move: the 'scorpion-kick' leaving many in awe. Chloe now has a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Korean Tang Soo Do and is also highly skilled in Kickboxing, Freestyle Martial Arts and gymnastics.
Over the years, Chloe won too many titles to mention. 2001-02 Irish Overall Kata Champion, 2001 French Freestyle and Weapons Champion 1998-2000 Swiss Freestyle Champion, 1999 Traditional, Freestyle and Weapons World Champion, 1998 Traditional, Freestyle and Weapons World Champion, 1997 Traditional and Freestyle World Champion, 1996 Traditional and Freestyle World Champion, and many more Freestyle, Traditional and Weapons Champion titles through the late 90's and early 2000's in WKA, WAKO and FSK Championships.
After 2000 Chloe became an even bigger star. She traveled the whole world to appear with various demo teams. She worked with Daniel Sterling and Mike Chat's XMA. Chloe also appeared in various music videos. In 2003 Chloe became a professional actress.Tang Soo Do (4th Dan, 2-time WKA Champion; WAKO & FSK Champion; Irish, US, Swiss, Quebec, New England & Ocean States Open Champion), Kickboxing
Trivia: holds the Guinness World Record of "most kicks delivered in one minute" - 212
Best seen in THE PURIFIERS- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Actress Rachel Louise Grant De Longueuil was born on the Island of Luzon in the Philippines. Her mother is Filipino and her father, British. Rachel is the middle of three sisters and grew up in the English town of Nottingham where she and her sisters performed on stage for many years. She attended drama school in London where she stayed on and pursued her acting career. She later moved to Los Angeles, California and now lives in New York.
Rachel has done some interesting theater work but got her big break as Nina in the British TV series on SyFy Sci-Fright (1999), but is best known for her role as Peaceful in the James Bond film Die Another Day Die Another Day (2002). She is proficient in martial arts and has worked with Jean Claude Van Damme and with Dominic Monaghan in British martial arts flick The Purifiers. She won Best Actress and Best Fight in the Shockfest Film Festival for her role as Princess in Red Princess Blues.
Rachel has traveled to over 70 countries and has led explorations to unknown and daring locations. She was Tour Guide and Host on Bravo TV's Tour Group and has a series of online travel videos, many which have gone viral accumulating over 100 million views in total. Her "How to Pack Over 100 Items into a Carry-on" won her a Shorty Award, was covered on over 200 websites and was featured on The Rachael Ray Show where she guest hosted. She writes for Jetset on Bravo.TV.
Rachel has appeared in several global commercials including: Galaxy Chocolate (UK), Axe Deodorant (worldwide), Carlsberg Lager (UK), Anadin Tablets (UK) Bank of Bangkok (Asia), Gouda Cheese (Germany), Vics Menthols (Germany).
She is related to British royalty through her grandfather, the late Baron Raymond De Longueuil (second cousin to Queen Elizabeth II of England) whose mother was Ernestine Maude Bowes-Lyon. Her father is the current Baron de Longueuil and her older sister Angela with take on the title of Baroness with Rachel and sister Rebecca as Honourable.Silat, Escrima
Trivia: is distantly related to the Royal Family of Great Britain
Best seen in THE PURIFIERS- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Samantha Win Tjhia (formerly Samantha Jo) was born in Barrie, Ontario, Canada to a Chinese father and Caucasian/Canadian mother, Charles and Leslie. She has two older brothers who reside in Toronto with the rest of her family. Samantha started acted at the age of 10, appearing in several toy commercials and print ads after winning Talent Search Canada 2001. She started martial arts at the age of 4 with Jiu Jitsu, but by the age of 17 she had become a competitive Wushu athlete- winning multiple medals at National, Pan-American and International levels and competed for Canada in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Wushu tournament. This afforded her the opportunity to move to Los Angeles as a stunt double and now, lead actress.
She is known for her proficiency in the action genre and accredits her background in stunt work for this. Samantha continues to gain momentum and excel with her no-quit work ethic and passion for the arts.Wushu (WWC Bronze medalist; 2-time Pan-American Gold medalist; Canadian National Team member), Jujitsu, Tai Chi
Trivia: trains at the Sunny Tang Martial Arts Center of Toronto, ON
Best seen in MORTAL KOMBAT: LEGACY- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Milla Jovovich is a Ukrainian-American actress, supermodel, fashion designer, singer and public figure, who was on the cover of more than a hundred magazines, and starred in such films as The Fifth Element (1997), Ultraviolet (2006), and the Resident Evil (2002) franchise.
Milica Bogdanovna Jovovich was born on December 17, 1975 in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now in Ukraine). Her Serbian father, Bogdan Jovovich, was a medical doctor in Kyiv. There, he met her mother, Galina Jovovich (née Loginova), a Russian actress. At the age of 5, in 1981, Milla emigrated with her parents from the Soviet Union, moving first to London, UK, then to Sacramento, California, and eventually settled in Los Angeles. There her parents worked as house cleaners for the household of director Brian De Palma. Her parents separated, and eventually divorced, because her father was arrested and spent several years in prison.
Young Milla Jovovich was brought up by her single mother in Los Angeles. In addition to her native Ukrainian, she also speaks Russian and English. However, in spite of her cosmopolitan background, Milla was ostracized by some of her classmates, as a kid who emigrated from the Soviet Union amidst the paranoia of the Cold War. Many emotional scars had affected her behavior, but she eventually emerged as a resilient, multi-talented, albeit rebellious and risk-taking girl. She was coached by her actress mother since her childhood, first at home, then studied music, ballet, and acting in Los Angeles.
She shot to international fame after she was spotted by the photographer Richard Avedon at the age of 11, and was featured in Revlon's "Most Unforgettable Women in the World" advertisements, and on the cover of the Italian fashion magazine 'Lei' which was her first cover shoot. She made her first professional model contract at the age of 12, and soon made it to the cover of 'The Face', 'Vogue', 'Cosmopolitan' and many other magazines. In 1994, she appeared on the cover of 'High Times' in the UK, at the age of 18. The total number of her magazine covers worldwide was over one hundred by 2004, and keeps counting. In 2004, she made $10.4 million, becoming the highest paid supermodel in the world.
Milla appeared in ad campaigns for Chanel, Versace, Emporio Armani, Donna Karen, DKNY, Celine, P&K, H&H, and continues her role as the worldwide spokesperson and model for L'Oreal. Thanks to their continued success with Milla, Giorgio Armani chose her to be the face of his fragrance, Night. In addition to Armani's fragrance, Milla was the face for Calvin Klein's Obsession and Christian Dior's Poison for over 10 years and has most recently become the new face for Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist fragrance, which debuts in August 2009. Milla continues to shoot with the fashion industry's most sought after photographers, including Peter Lindbergh, Mario Sorrenti, Craig McDean and Inez & Vinoodh.
Milla made her acting debut in the Disney Channel movie The Night Train to Kathmandu (1988) and she made guest appearances on television series including Married... with Children (1987) (in 1989 as a French exchange student), Paradise (1988) and Parker Lewis Can't Lose (1990). In 1988, at age 12, she made her film debut credited as Milla in a supporting role in Two Moon Junction (1988) by writer/director Zalman King. During the 1980s and early 1990s, she played several supporting roles as a teenage actress in film and on television, then starred in Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991). In 1997, she co-starred opposite Bruce Willis in the sci-fi blockbuster The Fifth Element (1997), then she starred as the title character of The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999).
In the early 2000s, Milla had a few years of uncertainty in her acting career due to the uneven quality of her films, as well as some hectic events in her private life. She appeared with Mel Gibson in Wim Wenders' The Million Dollar Hotel (2000) which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. She went on to co-star with Wes Bentley and Sarah Polley in The Claim (2000) and in Ben Stiller's spoof of the world of models and high-fashion, Zoolander (2001).
Milla achieved box office success in the U.S. and around the world with the action-packed thriller, Resident Evil (2002), based on the wildly popular video game, Resident Evil. It was written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. Milla reprised her role as the zombie slaying heroine, Alice, in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), Resident Evil: Retribution (2012), and again in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) A seventh resident Evil movie is in pre-production.
She received glowing reviews opposite Oscar-winner Adrien Brody and Illeana Douglas in Dummy (2002) which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. In the spring of 2006, Milla returned to the big screen as action heroine, Violet, in the futuristic film Ultraviolet (2006) directed by Kurt Wimmer.
Focusing on her personal sense of style, her love of fashion led Milla and her friend and business partner, Carmen Hawk, to launch their Jovovich-Hawk clothing line, which achieved instant acclaim in the domestic and international fashion world. The fresh, unique line garnered the attention of red carpet watchers and fashion magazines, including American Vogue, who featured Jovovich-Hawk on their coveted list of "10 Things to Watch Out for in 2005." A student of voice and guitar since she was very young, Milla began writing songs for her first record at the age of 15.
Her first album, "The Divine Comedy", was released by EMI Records in 1994. Informed by her experiences as a child growing up as a Russian emigrant in the Red-bashing Reagan era, the introspective European-folkish debut drew favorable reviews for Milla's songwriting and performing. She continues to write music, and has had songs featured on several film soundtracks. She has been writing music and lyrics to her song-demos, playing her guitar and sampling other sounds from her computer, and allowing free download and remix of her songs from her website.
Charitable work also plays a major part in Milla's life. She has served as Master of Ceremonies and co-chaired with Elizabeth Taylor for the amfAR and Cinema Against AIDS event at the Venice Film Festival, and has been heavily involved with The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, as well as The Wildlands Project.
For many years Milla Jovovich has been maintaining a healthier lifestyle, practicing yoga and meditation, trying to avoid junk food, and cooking for herself. Since she was a little girl, Milla has been writing a private diary, a habit she learned from her mother. She has been keeping a record of many good and bad facts of her life, her travels, her relationships, and all important ideas and events in her career, planning eventually to publish an autobiography. After dissolution of her two previous marriages, Milla Jovovich became engaged to film director Paul W.S. Anderson; their daughter, Ever Anderson, was born on November 3, 2007. They got married on August 22, 2009. Their second daughter, Dashiel Edan, was born on April 1, 2015.Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Trivia: performs many of her own stunts
Best seen in ULTRAVIOLET- Actress
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
- Producer
Jhoanna Trias was born on 9 February 1975. She is an actress and producer, known for Constantine (2005), Tiger Heart (1996) and L.A. Heat (1996).Kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Escrima
Trivia: studied the martial arts under Ron Balicki, Larry Lam, Dewey Cooper, Jun Chong, and Bong Soo Han, among others
Best seen in TIGER HEART- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Hilary was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Judith Kay (Clough), a secretary, and Stephen Michael Swank, who served in the National Guard and was also a traveling salesman. Her maternal grandmother, Frances Martha Dominguez, was of Mexican descent, and her other roots include German, English, and Scottish. During her early childhood, her family moved to Spokane, Washington, and when she was six, to Bellingham, Washington.
Hilary was discovered as a child by producer Suzy Sachs, who coached her in acting. When she was nine years old, she starred in her first play as "Mowgli" in "The Jungle Book". She began to appear regularly in local theater and school plays. She went to school in Bellingham, where she lived with her family, until she was 16. She competed in the Junior Olympics and Washington State championships in swimming; she ranked 5th in the state in all-around gymnastics (which would come in handy for starring in The Next Karate Kid (1994) years later). In 1990, Hilary and her mother moved to Los Angeles, where she enrolled in South Pasadena High School, and started acting professionally. She appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) but The Next Karate Kid (1994), where she got the part competing against hundreds of other actresses, was her breakout role. Ever since then, she has been much in demand and has worked non-stop in movies. She won the Best Actress Oscar for playing "Brandon Teena" in Boys Don't Cry (1999). In addition to the Oscar, Hilary won the Golden Globe Award for "Best Actress in a Drama" and "Best Actress" prizes from The New York Film Critics, The Los Angeles Film Critics, The Chicago Film Critics and The Broadcast Film Critics Association. She also won the "Breakthrough Performance" prize from The National Board of Review.
Hilary then appeared in supporting roles opposite Cate Blanchett and Keanu Reeves in Sam Raimi's The Gift (2000) and opposite Al Pacino and Robin Williams in Christopher Nolan's Insomnia (2002). Hilary then starred as "Alice Paul" in HBO's Iron Jawed Angels (2004), which told the story of the women's suffragist movement and she was honored with both SAG and Golden Globe nominations for her performance in this film. In 2004, Hilary starred opposite Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman as the title character in Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby (2004); the story of a young woman's quest to realize her dream of becoming a professional boxer. For this performance, she was honored with her second Academy Award for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role" and has garnered "Best Actress" prizes from the National Society of Film Critics, the Screen Actors Guild, The Broadcast Film Critics, and a Golden Globe for "Best Lead Actress in a Drama".
Hilary Swank is the third youngest woman in history to win two Academy Awards for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role".
She subsequently had a supporting role opposite Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett in Brian De Palma's The Black Dahlia (2006), starred in Freedom Writers (2007), the true story of Long Beach schoolteacher, Erin Gruwell, The Reaping (2007) for Warner Brothers, and reunited with her Freedom Writers (2007) writer/director, Richard LaGravenese, starring in the film adaptation of Cecelia Ahern's novel, P.S. I Love You (2007).
An aficionado for anything that involves the outdoors, she enjoys: sky diving, river rafting and skiing.Krav Maga
Trivia: has also studied boxing
Best seen in THE NEXT KARATE KID- Stunts
- Actress
- Producer
Crystal Santos was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her parents are Antonio Santos and Cynthia Davis, her father is from Mexico and her mother is Mexican American. The first style Crystal was introduced to was boxing, her father Antonio Santos was a boxer. At the age of 18-19 she briefly trained in Muay Thai, shortly after she was introduced to Grandmaster Eric Lee and studied Kung Fu, she fell in love with it and enjoyed learning the style and still actively trains with her Sifu Grand Master Eric Lee and in Wing Chun with her other Sifu Grand Master Samuel Kwok who have become like fathers to her. Crystal started in the stunt industry and has many great mentors. While working as a stuntwoman she studied with Master Simon Rhee and with Grand Master Gene Lebell and stunt car driving with Rick Seaman. She became a dual Bullwhip Master under the instruction of Noby Arden-Kreish of the Wallenda circus family, also, Crystal is trained by Devil Dog Tactical Weaponry team by Marine Robert Garcia. She went on to action acting and enjoys a successful career as an Action Actress. Her career as an action actress has flourished because she is one of the few action actresses that can do all of her own stunts and does not need a stunt double, bringing an real element of storytelling to any film or show she is involved in. Her many credits include, Bare Knuckles, War of the Worlds, Lone Ranger, The Monk, Argo, Death Proof, CSI, Gang Related, The Martial Arts Kid, and her upcoming film The Boom Boom Girls of Wrestling, Agents of Shield to name a few. Martial Arts Awards and Inductions: Inducted into The Worldwide Martial Arts Council on August 23, 2014. Inducted into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Honors on January 24, 2015. Inducted into The Munich Hall of Fame for Martial Arts on April 18th, 2015. Inducted into the Masters Hall of Fame June 6, 2015. Inducted Suisse Hall of Honours (Martial Arts) September 24, 2016.Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Trivia: is a member of the Devil Dog Tactical Weaponry Team
Best seen in BARE KNUCKLES- Actress
- Stunts
- Producer
Zara Phythian was born on 10 May 1984 in England. She is an actress and producer, known for Tribal Get Out Alive (2020), Doctor Strange (2016) and Morgan (2016). She has been married to Victor Marke since 2015.Shotokan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing (IKKF Hall of Fame entry)
Trivia: holds Guinness World Records for "Highest Female Martial Art Kick" and "Most Items Kicked off Peoples' Heads in One Minute"
Best seen in HE WHO DARES- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Taryn Manning was born in Falls Church, Virginia, to Bill Manning, a musician, and his wife Sharyn. At two months old, Manning's parents separated, and she moved with her mother and brother to Tucson, Arizona, where she was raised. Manning was active in dance, karate, and acting as a child. At age 12, her family moved to California.
She landed her first major role in 2001 as "Maddy" in Crazy/Beautiful (2001). Her breakthrough role was "Nola", a prostitute in Memphis, Tennessee, in Hustle & Flow (2005) and was nominated by the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards for Best Breakthrough Performance. The film also received a SAG award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast.
She has worked on the CBS series Hawaii Five-0 (2010) and the FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008). Her feature credits include Love Ranch (2010), Cold Mountain (2003), 8 Mile (2002), A Lot Like Love (2005), White Oleander (2002), and Crossroads (2002).
She is also series regular on Orange Is the New Black (2013). In addition to acting, Manning is also a fashion designer, singer-songwriter, and the vocalist for electronic duo Boomkat. She is also co-owner of the clothing brand "Born Uniqorn".Karate (3rd Dan; Arizona State Champion), Kickboxing
Trivia: is also a musician and member of the band BoomKAT
Best seen in ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE- Actress
- Stunts
- Composer
Cecily Fay was born on 6 April 1978 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, UK. She is an actress and composer, known for Warrioress (2013), Babes with Blades (2018) and Snow White and the Huntsman (2012).Melayu & Pentjak Silat (2-time EPSF Gold medalist), Tai Chi
Trivia: is the only woman to attain official mastership in both her styles of Silat
Best seen in WARRIORESS- Actress
- Stunts
- Producer
Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: is also a stage combat instructor
Best seen in THE CHAOS FACTOR- Actress
- Stunts
- Producer
Triple threat Danielle Burgio transitioned from Broadway dancer, to Hollywood stuntwoman, and now, successful actress / producer. Born in Andrews Airforce Base, Burgio booked her first job only two weeks after moving two New York City, making her Big White Way debut in Starlight Express.
After breaking in her skates on Broadway, Burgio moved to Los Angeles, where she became one of the industry's most sought after stunt women, appearing in over 100 films and TV shows, including fan boy favorites like Blade, Batman Forever, and serving as stunt double to Carrie Ann Moss' iconic 'Trinity' character in the Matrix sequels. Burgio's winning streak continued with a book, 'The Stuntwoman's Workout,' and invitation to co-host TBS' 'Worst Case Scenario,' where, as 'Gear Girl,' she performed some of the most thrilling stunts of her plane-jumping, car-crashing, skyscraper-dangling career, and got the opportunity to display her daredevil skills during appearances from Entertainment Tonight to Good Morning America.
In addition to her career as a top stunt woman, the host of the Women Kick Ass podcast has become a successful actress in her own rite, appearing in nearly 50 credits, most recently stealing the opening scene as 'Soccer Mom' in Zack Snyder's instant cult classic, Army of the Dead. The expert martial artist has also channeled her creativity behind the camera, writing, directing, and producing two short films, Lucy Falls and Girl Trip, which screened at festivals across the US.Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu
Trivia: is a former member of Broadway's Starlight Express
Best seen in THE ELIMINATOR- is an American actress, dancer, model, martial arts instructor, and former professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with WWE, where she is a former three-time WWE Divas Champion.
Torres began her career as a model and dancer. She danced for The Southern California Summer Pro League and went on to become a member of the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dance Team for the 2006-2007 season. She also appeared on several television shows, including Show Me The Money, Sunset Tan, and Deal or No Deal.
In 2007, she won the 2007 Diva Search, earning a contract with WWE. Torres first appeared on WWE programming as a backstage interviewer in 2008 and became a full-time wrestler in 2009. She won the WWE Divas Championship in April 2010. She held the championship on a further two occasions, becoming the first person to win it three times. Following her retirement from professional wrestling in 2013, Torres focused on her role as an instructor for the Gracie Women Empowered self-defense program at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California, and continued to act, with roles in Skiptrace and Supergirl. Torres was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Denver, Colorado. She has "a Latina background" as she is of Nicaraguan descent, as well as German and Swedish. She has a younger brother, Phil, who is a television presenter. Torres attended the University of Southern California (USC) on a full tuition scholarship. During college, she was one of the founding members of the Omega Phi Beta sorority chapter on her campus and held the vice-president position for several years. While in Omega Phi Beta, Torres was awarded for Academic Excellence at the Order of Omega Greek Awards. She graduated with honors and a grade point average above 3.5 in May 2006, with a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering.Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing
Trivia: is a spokesperson and head instructor for the Gracie Women Empowered Self-defense program
Best seen in THE SCORPION KING 4 - Stunts
- Actress
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, but grew up in Miami, Florida. Danced ballet her whole life and professionally, but moved out to Los Angeles to act and do stunts. After a few years in the stunt industry, Vanessa was nominated for Best Fire at the Taurus Awards 2010 for the Film Friday the 13th. In connection to stunts, Vanessa has also been Co Coordinating with Chuck Picerni on multiple features. Vanessa has doubled actresses such as Vanessa Ferlito (NCIS New Orleans), Jodi Balfour (Quarry), Natalie Martinez(Under the Dome),Daniella Alonso(Revolution), Shay Mitchell(Pretty Little Liars), and Brooke Burke. Vanessa has a beautiful daughter named Julia, named after Julia Roberts and reside in New Orleans, LA.Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: studied the martial arts under Simon Rhee
Best seen in BARE KNUCKLES- Actress
- Stunts
- Writer
Ashley Becciani is known for Sorry to Bother You (2018), The Black Wasp Strikes and The Return of the Panther (2018).Karate, Wushu
Trivia: also practices with the sword, spear, chain whip, and staff
Best seen in ROPE-A-DOPE 2- Actress
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Michelle Charlene Lee is an Asian American actress that has a series role named Violet in Blood and Treasure 2, Mileena in Mortal Kombat Legacy, a role on Black Widow and Venom to name a few. She's also appeared in many films and television series as a stunt woman in Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Captain Marvel and also motion captured many iconic video game characters like Ellie in The Last of Us 2, Ada Wong in Capcom's Resident Evil 6, and MJ in Sony's Spiderman 4 to name just a few. Michelle's ability to show strength through both acting and physicality has been recognized with a SAG Award for Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble for Top Gun 2, a SAG Nomination for Best Ensemble Cast in Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and graced the cover of Inside Kung Fu Magazine. Michelle has a black belt in Wushu, fluent in Mandarin and holds a BA in Economics from UCLA. You can find her on IG or TikTok @___michellelee She is with Global Artists Agency.Wushu (Berkeley Collegiate Silver medalist), Eagle Claw, Kickboxing
Trivia: studied the martial arts under Eric Chen and Chad Stahelski
Best seen in MORTAL KOMBAT: LEGACY- Actress
- Stunts
Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Mixed Martial Arts
Trivia: taught self-defense and weapons usage to the Staffordshire Police Department
Best seen in BITCHFIGHT- Jeanette Roxborough is a versatile actress with over 20 years in the entertainment industry, known for diverse roles in media including Disney's Angels in the Infield, Suits, Heroes Reborn, Mutant X, and stunt/fight doubling for Melissa George on Thieves, Denise Richards on Undercover Brother, and Barbara Hershey on Damien and Beacon 23, to name a few. Raised in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, she transitioned from competitive figure skating to acting, earning accolades, including the Best Leading Actress Award at the Downbeach Film Festival for her notable performance in 'Bare Knuckles.' Apart from her acting prowess, she holds a 3rd-degree black belt, demonstrating her dedication to martial arts.
With extensive training in the Meisner technique and studies in renowned entertainment cities such as NYC, Los Angeles, and Toronto, Jeanette has honed her craft, garnering notable credits in both protagonist and antagonist roles, as well as a long list of print ads and commercials. She recently showcased her talent in a National Sephora commercial (2023).
A passionate individual, Jeanette is also fluent in American Sign Language, highlighting her dedication both as a mother and to fostering inclusivity. Toronto is her home, where she continually broadens her horizons by embracing diverse experiences through travel and immersing herself in different cultures.Shotokan Karate (3rd Dan)
Trivia: formerly competed in provincial figure skating in Canada
Best seen in BARE KNUCKLES - Actress
- Producer
- Stunts
Marilyn practices Martial Arts. She has traveled around the world, her favorite places to visit are Israel, Turkey, Alaska, Argentina, and Greece. Her parents are Feliciano and Marina. She loves horseback riding as well as training in Boxing, Bikram Yoga, Crossfit, and jogging. She has a major in Marketing from Rhode Island College. She has nieces and nephews born in Argentina, Peru, and Indonesia.Shotokan Karate
Trivia: prefers performing in action movies and comedies
Best seen in THE SKY HAS FALLEN- Stunts
- Actress
- Writer
Born on a ranch in North Hollywood, California, Spice Williams-Crosby rode her horse to kindergarten, grew up playing in her father's medical offices, eventually hitting the road as a musician, singer, and dancer under contract to 20th Century-Fox Records.
Overcoming a seven-year drug and alcohol problem, at the age of 26, she turned to God, nutrition and exercise with the eventual promise of helping others to turn their lives around. As she got older, Spice changed the course of her career and began studying acting for stage and film. After hearing about roles for female warriors, wrestlers, and super-heroines, she took to kickboxing and bodybuilding, slowly creating a niche for herself.
Spice has worked in such feature motion pictures as Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), The Cherokee Kid (1996), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), The Guyver (1991), A Simple Plan (1998), and For Love of the Game (1999). She has also guest-starred on numerous TV shows including Roseanne (1988), My Two Dads (1987), Women in Prison (1987), Mama's Family (1983), The Bold And The Beautiful, The Young and the Restless (1973), Step by Step (1991), Smart Guy (1997), Diagnosis Murder (1993), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), and Scrubs (2001), in what she terms as an "action actress." "In fact," says Spice, "I can't remember doing a role where I wasn't asked to perform some kind of physical feat". Since 1986, Spice has been stunt doubling Deidre Hall (Marlena) on Days of Our Lives (1965) and has also played several roles on that soap. She had the great honor of working with Clint Eastwood on Million Dollar Baby (2004), and then had a blast working on an independent film in with Luke Goss, called The Dead Undead (2010). She is very proud of co-starring in an incredible film called The Sensei (2008) with Diana Lee Inosanto starring & directing, a fun film called Bare Knuckles (2010), and recently, she played a warden in a Stallone film, and can be seen as a hooker on the new TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013). Starting in 2014, Spice has produced her own show called I Fight for My Life (2014), about women victims and turning them into women victors!
Stunts came into play in 1980 ago when Spice was asked to double an actress playing a Judo instructor opposite Rock Hudson. Since then, she has doubled for the likes of Louise Fletcher, Meg Foster, Katherine Ross, Clare Carey, Deidre Hall, Cindy Pickett, Linda Kozlowski, Eileen Brennen, Becky Ann Baker, Kelly Preston and many more. Spice also Stunt Coordinates feature films, Television shows and commercials. Her stunt expertise is in fighting & "hitting the ground!"
Although Spice has crashed cars, dove through glass windows, taken stair falls, executed 30-foot ratchets, 50-foot high falls, and hung from helicopters 350 feet above the ground, she is perhaps best known for her ability to pick a 300 pound man up over her head in a fireman's carry. In the year 2000, Spice founded the Stunt Peer Group & Emmy at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Gracing the cover and pages of over 100 magazines, both here and abroad, Spice has also made a name for herself as a nutritional expert with 2 Masters in Fitness Science & Holistic Nutrition and a PhD in Natural Health Medicine, writing for magazine as Ms. Fitness, Natural Muscle Magazine, and World Black Belt. She holds a 6th DAN in Arjukanpo, 6th DAN in Doce Pares Eskrima, and is Certified Level B in Israeli Krav Panim el Panim (abbrev. KAPAP), Level C in Guatemala GIKA, and Security Defensive Tactics, Inc.. Her successful joint venture with her husband -- a popular line of vegetarian food products called "Spice Of Life Meatless Meats & Jerky." In December of 1998, she was voted into the Marquis Who's Who in America-West. One of her greatest honors was posing for a 30ft bronze statue where she represents the past, present and future female athletes of the Olympics. Spice's goal is to continue to set an example for the "women of the new millennium" -- spiritually focused, mentally alert, and physically capable. Spice is married to Gregory Crosby, screenwriter (Hacksaw Ridge), grandson of actor/singer Bing Crosby, and they have a beautiful son Luke, who is equally healthy and active!Arjukanpo (3rd Dan), Kickboxing, Kapap, Escrima
Trivia: is the only US woman to be granted a Level B rank in Kapap by the Israeli Ministry of Education
Best seen in THE DEAD UNDEAD- Stunts
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Actress
Melissa R. Stubbs was born in 1970 in Canada. She is an assistant director and actress, known for Inception (2010), The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).Karate, Kickboxing, Escrima
Trivia: also practices with the bo staff and bokken
Best seen in BATMAN & ROBIN- Rebecca Ferratti was born in the "Big Sky Country," Montana. She is an active sports enthusiast and has been involved in many professional sports, including the arena of competitive martial arts, and has developed her talents as a weapons, sparring and forms champion. She attributes her positive attitude to setting high goals and achieving success.
She is well traveled, both domestically and internationally, and is a contributing writer to magazines concentrating on travel training, health and beauty tips and overall workouts for all levels from beginners to advanced training. She firmly believes that health and fitness helps one attain a positive drive in life with limitless opportunities for accomplishments.
Rebecca has worked with some of the top fashion photographers in the world: Alberto Tolot, Harry Langdon, Helmut Newton, John Zimmerman and Ken Marcus. She has completed advertising campaigns for Budweiser, Miller Light, Coors, Michelob, Strohs, Harley-Davidson, Snap-On Tools, Coppertone and several cosmetic lines.
She has held many beauty pageant titles and has graced the pages of "Mademoiselle," "Model," "Shape," "Muscle and Fitness," "Swimwear Illustrated," "Swimwear International," "Los Angeles," "Natural Body and Fitness," "Power," "Femme Fatales," "Playboy," "Playboy Bathing Beauties," "Paris Match," "Life," and many international publications.
Rebecca is a drama student and has studied situation comedy with the late Bill Hudnut at the famous Improv Comedy Club. She is an accomplished spokesperson, having hosted many shows starting with Star Search (1983), has made numerous television appearances and was a national and international radio guest D.J., which she hopes to host a talk show live for radio and television.
She is an accomplished dancer and has been in over 25 music videos, including ones for The Gap Band, Mötley Crüe, The Beach Boys, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, David Lee Roth, Winger and appeared in Eddie Murphy's debut music video and his Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) video.
She is also very much involved in a host of charitable endeavors, including The Amanda Foundation, Leukemia Foundation, Stuntmen's Charity Fund, Los Angeles Police Department Fund, Muscular Dystrophy, Heal the Bay, Penny Lane Foundation, Children of the Night, City of Hope, USO, Rainforest Association, American Indian Funding, and has long been a champion for animals, rescuing and placing many sick and abandoned animals every year.
Rebecca is of Italian, Panamanian, French, English and Swiss descent.Kickboxing
Trivia: competed in fighting, weapons, forms, and board-breaking during her competitive career
Best seen in GOR - Retired African-American female professional wrestler best known for her work in the USWA as Miss Texas and under her own first name for WCW in 1997 and for WWE from 1998 to 2004. After training under legendary heel manager General Skandor Akbar, she debuted for World Class Championship Wrestling as Sweet Georgia Brown. Changed her ring name to Miss Texas and competed under that name for years in Memphis. She broke ground by wrestling both women and men, and, in 1993, was the first woman to be ranked in "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" Magazine's "PWI 500" ranking of the best wrestlers in the world. During her time there, she was the inaugural USWA Women's Champion and would hold the title a record 14 times. She had a brief run in Jim Cornette's SMW as Sgt. Rock, a member of Cornette's Army. She also worked as Queen Moesha as a member of the USWA arm of the Nation of Domination. In February 1997, "The Taskmaster" Kevin Sullivan brought her in to WCW as the final member of the Dungeon of Doom, as part of his feud with Chris Benoit and Sullivan's former wife Woman (Nancy Daus-Sullivan). In this role, her main function was to cheat relentlessly behind the referee's back by beating up Sullivan's opponents on the floor. The storyline behind her arrival was based on a supposed "relationship" between herself and Sullivan that was never explained. At "WCW Bash at the Beach 97," she turned on Sullivan by smashing a chair over his head, costing him his Career vs. Career match with Benoit, and sending him into retirement. (Sullivan continued to work in the office until he was pushed out by Kevin Nash in late 1998, though he would not have another match until "Starrcade 99.") After Disco Inferno defeated WCW World Television Champion Alex Wright for the title on the September 22, 1997 "WCW Monday Nitro," Jacqueline confronted Disco about a title shot, as Disco had left the company for a short time earlier in the year after refusing to lose a match to her. This led to Jacqueline defeating Disco in a non-title (due to how WCW wouldn't/couldn't sanction an intergender match for a title) match at "WCW Halloween Havoc 1997." Following in the tradition of her regularly losing her clothes in Memphis, Jackie suffered a nipple slip while executing a Side Russian Legsweep. Jackie disappeared for a time before arriving in WWE on the "Raw" after "WWF Over the Edge 1998." At that PPV, Marc Mero had defeated Sable, thus forcing Sable out of the company, though she was brought back soon after. Mero introduced Jackie as Sable's replacement, leading to the inevitable feud. At "WWF Fully Loaded 98," Jackie faced Sable in a Bikini Contest. Jackie actually wore a one-piece thong swimsuit, and, while dancing around, flashed her left breast on camera. Sable wore only a thong with hands painted on her breasts. Sable was declared the winner, but the decision was reversed the following night on "Raw." The feud continued, and WWE brought back the dormant WWE Women's Title for it. Jackie defeated Sable for the vacant title, becoming the first African-American wrestler to hold the title. Sable defeated Jackie for the belt at "Survivor Series 98." At the UK-only "WWF Capital Carnage" PPV, Sable and Christian defeated Mero and Jackie, in Mero's last match with the company. After the match, Jackie climbed on referee Tim White's shoulders and started punching away at him, and Sable pulled Jackie's shirt right off of her body, revealing that she was not wearing a bra. This was the first moment of out-and-out toplessness on PPV, predating Miss Kitty/the Kat celebrating winning the title by removing her bra and flashing her breasts at "WWF Armageddon 99" by a year. In the Fall, Jackie and Terri Runnels both rejected their men, Mero and Val Venis (Sean Morley) respectively, and formed Pretty Mean Sisters (PMS), based on the premise that they hated men. The duo added Ken Shamrock's "sister" Ryan Shamrock (Alicia Webb) and Meat (Shawn Stasiak-Stipich), who was essentially Runnels' sex slave, until he dropped the gimmick and renamed himself Shawn Stasiak. PMS went their separate ways in late 1999. On January 31, 2000, manager/referee/road agent Harvey Wippleman (Bruno Lauer) dressed up as "Harvina" and defeated the Kat for the Women's Title in a "Lumberjill Snowbunny Match." That Thursday on "SmackDown!," with all of the women complaining about Wippleman being the Champion, Jackie was chosen as his opponent. The match started with Harvey making sexist comments, then Jackie speared him, rained down several punches, slammed Harvey, dropped an elbow and pinned him for her second and final WWE Women's Title. She lost the title to Stephanie McMahon in March and never regained it. Jackie was pushed down the card, and reduced to working as a referee and as a trainer on "WWE Tough Enough" and at WWE's developmental promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling. On the May 6, 2004 "WWE SmackDown!," WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. threw out an open challenge to defend the title against anyone, and Jackie responded. She proceeded to defeat Chavo for the belt, becoming the only woman to win the title in WWE (Debra Ann Miceli and Daffney Unger (Shannon Spruill) had both won it in WCW) and the only African-American wrestler to ever win the title (Lance Storm had awarded the title to Elix Skipper back in WCW in 2000 as part of the formation of Team Canada). In her last appearance, Jackie lost the title back to Chavo at "WWE Judgment Day." Jackie had a couple of runs in TNA, usually aligned with James Storm, before retiring. Along with her in-ring achievements, she is also a black belt in Tae Kwan Do. She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016.HONORARY ENTRY
Tae Kwon Do (3rd Dan), Kickboxing
Trivia: is the only woman to hold the WWE Cruiserweight Championship - Stunts
- Actress
- Writer
Marissa Labog, nicknamed "Mighty" by her peers, is committed to her strong belief in the transformative power of storytelling. Indicated by her nickname, as an actor, dancer, and stunt woman, Marissa is fearless and powerful in her pursuit for creative adventure earning her awards such as the Lester Horton Award for Outstanding Performer, the Solo Award, and an Ovation Award Nomination.
Unable to sit still she explored multiple avenues of movement from dance, gymnastics, and martial arts to running, jumping, and climbing trees. Dancing nationally and internationally with PCB Ballet and Inland Pacific Ballet, Marissa was urged by her loving mother to take up martial arts to learn to "defend" herself while traveling abroad. Enrolling her in Karate, Marissa excelled and furthered her study with capoeira, and Tae Kwon Do. Curious of her training and its connection to her growing desire to tell stories, Marissa went on to Scripps College where she graduated with a BA in both Dance and English and the coveted Lucille Morrison Scholarship. After graduation, Marissa performed as a principle dancer across the United States, Japan, Ireland, Portugal, Russia, China, Holland, Belgium, and England with the companies John Pennington and the famed LA Philharmonic, Oni Dance, Rosanna Gamson Worldwide, Company of Strangers, and Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre of which she is rehearsal director.
In a wonderful twist of fate, Marissa stumbled upon breaking (aka break dancing). Impressed by its freedom and pursuit of individuality, she went on to found and direct the breaking performance group called "One Step Ahead." Established as a youth advocate organization, OSA is now recognized as a prominent physical theater company.
She worked with such artists as Tina Turner, Christina Aguilera, LL Cool J, and prominent brands such as Nike, iPod, and Coke. Moving onto TV and Film, Marissa had worked on such shows as "The Drew Carey Show,""Fresh Beat Band," "Shake It Up" and films "House Bunny," "Bratz," and " Colombiana," to name a few. Through film work Marissa had the pleasure of working with superstar originator of parkour David Belle, delving her into the world of stunts, a world perfect for a woman of her unique skills.
Currently studying acting with Diana Castle and Steve Tiesort, Marissa can also be seen horrifying viewers as a terrorist in "Act of Valor," seducing lovers in "Hail Satan," and courageously, sometimes drunkenly, coping with the aftermath of a catastrophic flood in the theater production of "Dirty Mean Tricks." A proud member of SAG and Aftra, Marissa looks forward to many creative adventures coming her way.Wushu, Tae Kwon Do, Capoeira, Karate
Trivia: is also a stage actress, having won the Lester Horton Award in 2010
Best seen in RAZE- Stunts
- Actress
- Producer
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Capoeira, Northern Shaolin, Kickboxing, Kobudo
Trivia: is a former competitive swimmer
Best seen in MASK OF THE NINJA- Stunts
- Actress
- Producer
Maja Aro was born on 1 January 1984 in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada. She is an actress and producer, known for War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), Good Boys (2019) and Last Stand to Nowhere (2019). She has been married to Jeffery Aro since 13 July 2013.Tae Kwon Do (red belt), Budo Taijutsu (red belt), Escrima
Trivia: finished in second place at the 2002 Women's Big Air Competition
Best seen in TRUE JUSTICE- Actress
- Producer
Carrie-Anne Moss was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. At age 20, after studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she moved to Europe to pursue a career in modeling. While in Spain she was cast in the TV show Dark Justice which was produced in Barcelona for its first season and Los Angeles for its second. Once in LA, Carrie-Anne was cast in other series regular opportunities like Matrix (which coincidentally presaged the movie that would later make her famous), and then Aaron Spelling's Models Inc.
Carrie-Anne's work was gaining attention when the late great Mali Finn brought her in to audition for The Wachowski's, who offered her the opportunity to create the iconic cyber warrior "Trinity". Alongside her "One" Keanu Reeves, in stride with Laurence Fishburne and the multifaceted Hugo Weaving. Carrie-Anne Moss galvanized her place in cinematic history in one of the highest grossing sci-fi action franchises of all time.
Carrie-Anne began receiving a wide range of scripts but it was the complex screenplay Memento that stirred her creative senses and once meeting the then unknown writer/director Christopher Nolan, it was without hesitation that she accepted the role of "Natalie" in Nolan's directorial debut. Her remarkable performance won her the coveted Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female that year.
Prominent directors and producers continued to pursue her. She survived with Val Kilmer on the Red Planet for Warner Bros; sweetened Lasse Hallstrom's multi Oscar nominated Chocolat for Miramax and tracked Sir Ben Kingsley in Paramount's Suspect Zero. She mothered Shia LaBeouf in DreamWork's box-office hit Disturbia; and together with Samuel L. Jackson, led the intense interrogation of Michael Sheen in Sony's Unthinkable.
Carrie-Anne continued to collaborate on independent projects including The Chumscrubber with Ralph Fiennes and Glenn Close; the comedy noir Mini's First Time also starring Alec Baldwin and Luke Wilson; Snow Cake the touching drama with Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman; Fireflies in the Garden in the company of Ryan Reynolds, Julia Roberts and Willem Defoe; and the retro zombie rom-com Fido along with Billy Connelly and Dylan Baker.
Throughout her career, Carrie-Anne has joined compelling television projects such as Ryan Murphy's Pretty Handsome; CBS's Vegas for James Mangold and Marvel's Jessica Jones as "Jerry Hogarth" for show runner Melissa Rosenberg. She recently finished acting and also producing in her second season, the bi-lingual English/Norwegian detective crime series Wisting, as an FBI agent set in the Norwegian landscape.
Next up, Carrie-Anne returns once again to star as "Trinity" in the much anticipated fourth installment of Lana Wachowski's Matrix Resurrections opposite Keanu Reeves for Warner Bros, which launches globally December 22, 2021Shaolin Kung Fu
Trivia: trained in screen fighting under Yuen Woo-Ping for four months
Best seen in THE MATRIX- Stunts
- Actress
Caitlin Dechelle was born in Miami, FL and is based in Atlanta, GA. She began her martial arts training at 6 years old and was competing by age 8. She enjoyed the exhilaration of competition and went on to win 94 NASKA & World Titles, making her the most decorated female martial artist in the world. Competing provided her the opportunity to travel the world. She retired from the competition circuit at 24 to pursue her dream of becoming a stunt woman and an actress. She is a brand ambassador for Rockstar Energy, Century Martial Arts and Garden of Life, all which are important components of her daily life. She co-starred with Jackie Chan in Chinese Zodiac. She played "The Geneticist" on MTV's Teen Wolf Season 5. She is an award winning stunt woman; recognized for Hawkeye, The Mandalorian, The Hunt, Agents of Shield, Altered Carbon, Wonder Woman, Midnight Texas, Furious 7 and many more.Karate (60-time NASKA Champion; 12-time ISKA Champion; 5-time WSKF Champion; 2-time WAKO Champion; 3-time AKA Champion), Kendo
Trivia: was personally cast by Jackie Chan in the below-mentioned film after he saw her compete on television
Best seen in CHINESE ZODIAC- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Nicole "Nikki" Bilderback grew up in Dallas, Texas as an all-American girl. She was born in Seoul, Korea but is a mix of Korean, Japanese and Chinese, giving her a versatile Asian-American look. Nikki was adopted as a newborn by Jim and Lois Bilderback. Being the youngest child and only daughter, she started dance training at the young age of 3 years old. She is proficient in all styles of dance- specializing in lyrical, modern, contemporary, ballet and hip/hop. Nikki is a major fitness buff and enjoys spin, high intensity interval training and is well experienced in kick boxing and mixed martial arts, enabling her to perform her own stunts.
Ms. Bilderback has made her mark recurring on popular tv shows such as BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, THE ROOKIE, GOOD GIRLS, BONES, PERCEPTION, THE MENTALIST, HUMAN TARGET, CASTLE, NUMB3RS, HOUSE, HEROES, WITHOUT A TRACE, DAWSON'S CREEK, and DARK ANGEL. Some of her feature film credits include Netflix's STAGED KILLER, the action film MERCENARIES, CLUELESS, CAN'T HARDLY WAIT, LEGALLY BLONDE 2, BAD GIRLS FROM VALLEY HIGH, plus many more! Nikki is probably most recognized as the bitchy cheerleader "Whitney" in the blockbuster mega-hit BRING IT ON, starring Kirsten Dunst.
"I am an actress who is Asian-American. Not an 'Asian Actress' and this does not limit my ability, nor should it limit my opportunities to play any female lead character." A role that stands out as the perfect example of this, Nicole was cast as the female lead in the highly acclaimed independent feature film, THE NEW TWENTY. It is a non-ethnic specific role AND the female lead. Being marked by critics as "The St. Elmo's Fire of this generation"- LA Weekly, the film received numerous awards at all the film festivals both nationwide and internationally. In the summer of 2008, she won The Grand Jury Award BEST LEAD ACTRESS at the Los Angeles Out Fest Film Festival for her first female leading lady role. www.thenewtwentymovie.com.
As an actress/writer/producer, Nikki has written a ½ hour single camera comedy pilot based on her life as a Texan-Asian American actress in Hollywood titled, RED, WHITE and YELLOW. Ms. Bilderback has created 3 treatments ready to pitch and sell- two tv series and a feature film. In addition, she is starting to shadow renown directors and hopes to hyphen her talents as a TV director!
Ms. Bilderback was recently seen as "Captain Kim" on NBC's BROOKLYN NINE-NINE. She is currently the no-nonsense attorney "Denise Harper" on Freeform's #1 most watched hit series ever, CRUEL SUMMER. Season 1 of the psychological thriller/mystery is streaming on Hulu. Up next...You will be able to see Nikki as "Lisa Lawson" in the upcoming holiday rom- com, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF CHRISTMAS, premiering this holiday season 2022!Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts
Trivia: performs her own stunts
Best seen in DARK ANGEL- Amy Dumas was born on April 14, 1975 in Florida. Not much is known about her past except that she and her family did a lot of moving around. Her parents divorced before she graduated from high school. She graduated 6 months early and became a roadie for 5 years and became interested in wrestling after watching Rey Mysterio Jr. She later made her way through wrestling schools before being signed to ECW, where she remained for 9 months before quitting. Later that year she signed with WWF and debuted with Essa Rios on Feb. 13, 2000. After her relationship with Essa ended, Amy joined Matt and Jeff Hardy and the three became Team Xtreme. Time went by and the threesome were popular everywhere, but it wasn't long before the group started facing problems and the three split for a while until returning in 2002 at the WWF 2002 Royal Rumble. A few months later, Amy broke her neck while filming FOX'S Dark Angel and was unable to return to the ring for many months. She is currently partnered with Edge on WWE's RAW.Judo, Kickboxing
Trivia: is the survivor of three cracked vertebrae, sustained while filming the below-mentioned program
Best seen in DARK ANGEL - Actress
- Additional Crew
Selina Lo is known for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), Hellraiser (2022) and Boss Level (2020).Sanshou
Trivia: is also proficient in swordplay
Best seen in THE SCORPION KING 3- Barbara Gehring (born Barbara Melnyk) is a Canadian born actress and playwright originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba. A veteran of improv, sketch comedy and theatre, she is also the co-creator, playwright and star of the national hit show, The Secret Comedy of Women- Girls Only.® Gehring's professional career of over 25 years as an actress and playwright has run the gamut from stage to screen and TV commercial to voice work in Denver, Colorado. Gehring has to her credit several indie films and most recently starred in The Social Dilemma which wowed audiences in the 2020 International Sundance Film Festival and was picked up as a Netflix Original Documentary.Goju-Ryu Karate, Kobudo
Trivia: is also a martial arts instructor of the Boulder Kodokan studio in Colorado
Best seen in DRAGON AND THE HAWK - Actress
- Producer
From pioneering women's MMA to blazing a trail in movies, GINA CARANO is one of Hollywood's most unique rising stars. Carano began her training with Muay Thai to competitive MMA, where she competed in Strikeforce and EliteXC. Her popularity led to her being called the "Face of Women's MMA" and she was the fastest-rising search on Google and third-most-searched person on Yahoo and ranked 5th on a list of the "Top 10 Influential Women" of 2008. In August 2009, Carano fought Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg, the first time two women headlined a major MMA event and at the time was the highest rated fight in Showtime history. Carano compiled a competitive record of 12-1-1 in Muay Thai and a 7-1 in women's MMA.[4]
Outside the ring, Carano served as a mentor to aspiring fighters in the 2007 Oxygen reality series Fight Girls and performed as 'Crush' in the revamped television series American Gladiators before her breakout performance in Steven Soderbergh's film HAYWIRE, holding her own against the likes of Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Bill Paxton and Antonio Banderas. Gina's authenticity to making the Action look real earned her performance a Critics Choice Award Nomination for Best Actress in an action film. Hot on the heels came a role in the worldwide hit FAST AND FURIOUS 6 for Universal Pictures opposite Dwayne Johnson furthering her appeal as an Action Star. Next up, she co-starred alongside Robert DeNiro, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Dave Bautista in Lionsgate's film HEIST followed by the role of 'Angel Dust' in the smash hit MARVEL/FOX film DEADPOOL opposite Ryan Reynolds based on the popular comic book. The film grossed over $870 Million dollars at the Box Office. After starring in the independent films DAUGHTER OF THE WOLF opposite Richard Dreyfuss and the dark comedy MADNESS IN THE METHOD with Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, Gina had secured a lead role in Jon Favreau's highly reviewed Star Wars TV show THE MANDALORIAN for Disney +. Gina played 'Cara Dune', a former Rebel Shock Trooper in the series. However, after sharing a controversial post on social media, Gina was fired by Lucas Film and her character was written out of the show.
Carano was born in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of Dana Joy (née Cason) and professional football player Glenn Carano who played for the Dallas Cowboys and was the backup quarterback to Roger Staubach. She has two sisters, one older and one younger.
*Gina became the first recipient of ActionFest's Chuck Norris (Best Female Action Star) Award, given to the female action star of the year.
*Gina received the Artemis Action Warrior Award for her contributions to the female action genre and women's MMA. The award was presented to her by Action legend Zoe BellKickboxing, Muay Thai (record: 12-1-1), Mixed Martial Arts (record: 7-1)
Trivia: is the recipient of the first-ever Chick Norris award from ActionFest film festival
Best seen in HAYWIRE- Actress
- Producer
Margaret Denise Quigley was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to a father of Polish and Irish descent (originally based in New York) and a Vietnamese mother. Her parents met during the Vietnam War. Maggie has two older half-siblings from her mother's previous marriage, and two older sisters. The family moved to Hawaii and settled in Mililani.
Maggie dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but modeled and found herself bursting onto the Hong Kong movie scene - eventually becoming a full-fledged superstar in Asia. She changed her name to the easily pronounceable "Maggie Q" (for the Chinese audience). She had a cameo in the Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker smash hit Rush Hour 2 (2001) and is part of the supporting cast in Mission: Impossible III (2006), starring Tom Cruise.Wing Chun, Wushu
Trivia: also practices qi gong
Best seen in NIKITA- Stunts
- Actress
- Art Department
Helen Steinway Bailey is known for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), Robin Hood (2010) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011).Wushu (British National Champion), Okinawa-Te Karate
Trivia: is a member of the Babes with Blades martial arts team
Best seen in WARRIORESS- Jesse-Jane McParland is known for Into the Badlands (2015), The Martial Arts Kid (2015) and Robyn Hoodie (2017).Karate (9-time WOMAA Champion; WKC Champion)
Trivia: is the youngest WKC champion in history
Best seen in THE MARTIAL ARTS KID - Stunts
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Juliana Potter is a professional stuntwoman and actress, local to Hollywood. Known for her work as the Seraphim in AMC's Preacher, and for her stunt work on features and television shows. From Acton Massachusetts, Potter's background consists of musical theater performance, competitive gymnastics & dance along with a multitude of other competitive sports. She has a theater and communications/PR degree from Syracuse University & OSU.Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: also practices fencing
Best seen in THE SHADOW BOXER- Stunts
- Actress
- Camera and Electrical Department
Karin Justman was born on 13 March 1970 in Morristown, New Jersey, USA. She is an actress, known for The Guardian (2006), Ford v Ferrari (2019) and Baby Driver (2017).Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: studied the martial arts under Simon Rhee
Best seen in SUPAH NINJAS- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Christina Rose was born in Naples, Italy, to American parents, Mary and Allen Polkowski, a US Navy serviceman who was stationed in Italy at the time. She was raised in Macomb Twp., MI and is one of four girls.
Rose started performing in the family band, The Odyssey Sound System, at a very young age. She sang in the school choir at Dakota High School and performed in every high school play and musical in productions such as Adelaide in "Guys & Dolls" and Anita in "West Side Story". With the ambition of performing on Broadway she received her BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Central Michigan University and performed in various productions: Leisl in "The Sound of Music", Ronette in "Little Shop of Horrors", Roxie in "Chicago", and Rosa Bud in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood". She was also a prominent member of the "Orchesis Dance Company" at CMU.
Rose spent the summer of her Junior year in New York City and auditioned for and booked the National Tour of "Oklahoma!" (Susan Stroman). Insistent on graduating from college with her degree she was placed on the replacements list for the tour. Because of this, Rose had a job with the show the day after she graduated from college. She toured with the company for a year before moving to New York City. After various Theatre, TV, and Commercial bookings Rose landed her dream job on Broadway. In Kathleen Marshall's "Grease" at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
The Financial Crisis of 2008 lead to many Broadway shows closing including "Grease". At this point, after starring in a few Independent Films, Rose moved to LA to pursue a career in TV, Film, and Voiceover.Kickboxing
Trivia: is also a self-defense instructor
Best seen in CIRCLE OF FURY- Actress
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Bridgett Riley was born on 13 May 1973 in Oakville, Missouri, USA. She is an actress, known for Watchmen (2009), Jumper (2008) and Star Trek Beyond (2016).Kickboxing (ISKA, WKBA, WKA, UKF & IKBF Champion; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry; record: 26-2), Karate (1st Dan)
Trivia: is also a professional boxer (record: 15-3) and former IFBA Champion
Best seen in TRIPLE IMPACT- Actress
- Producer
Cathy is a combat performance artist and is a specialist in movement/psychological choreography. She has spent 16 years in the martial art and professional boxing industry as a fighter of which she was ranked number 3 in the World and held both English and European title and a professional boxing and martial arts coach. She has done choreography for and performed in a British movie and a music video and managed the movement choreography and emotional choreography on a London opera. She is very highly respected within the sports industry for her physical and psychological knowledge and experience.Kickboxing
Trivia: is also a professional boxer (record: 13-8) and the first woman to hold the BBBofC title
Best seen in INTERGALACTIC COMBAT- Born October 17, 1981 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to parents Roger Holm and Tammy Bredy, Holly Holm is considered to be one of the greatest female boxers of all time. Holm attended Manzano High School where she wanted to take up wrestling, but her parent's wouldn't allow it since there were no girl's teams. She took up kickboxing as an alternative. At the age of 17 she began sparring, and had her first fight when she turned 18.
Mike Winkeljohn, Holm's trainer, saw immediate potential, and in 2001 Holm won the national title in the international rules adult women's division in Ringside's amateur kickboxing tournament. Her amateur kickboxing record stands at 6-0-2. Her boxing debut was in January of 2002 and her professional debut as a kickboxer was five months later on June 1.
Holm's boxing record is an astounding 33 wins - 2 losses - 3 draws, winning both the WBF Female World Light Welterweight and World Welterweight titles. In 2012 she was named Female Fighter of the Year and also received an award for Female Fight of the Year. She is an 18-time world champion across three weight classes.
Holm retired from boxing in 2013 to pursue a career in MMA, and on July 10, 2014 she signed a mulit-fight contract with the UFC. She appears in the film Fight Valley (2016) along with sister UFC fighter Miesha Tate.Kickboxing (IKF Champion), Mixed Martial Arts (UFC & Legacy FC Champion; record: 10-3)
Trivia: is also a professional boxer (record: 33-2-3), having won the WBF, WBAN, WBC, NABF, IFBA, WBA, and IBA championships
Best seen in FIGHT VALLEY - Miesha Tate was born on 18 August 1986 in Tacoma, Washington, USA. She is an actress, known for Here Without You, Fight Valley (2016) and Pursued.Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (purple belt; FILA Silver medalist; World Team Trials National Champion & Silver medalist), Mixed Martial Arts (2-time FCF Champion; UFC & Strikeforce Champion; World MMA Hall of Fame entry; record: 18-7)
Trivia: is the first fighter to have defeated Marloes Coenen in an MMA match
Best seen in FIGHT VALLEY - Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Ronda Rousey burst onto the women's MMA scene in August of 2010. Born in Riverside County, California on February 1, 1987 to parents Ron Rousey and AnnMaria DeMars, little Ronda was born with an umbilical cord wrapped around her neck that damaged her vocal cords. She didn't speak coherently until the age of six. Ronda was a self-professed tomboy and swam from the ages of 6 to 10. She competed on the Jr. Olympic swim team where she placed in the state level.
Because of her mother, a 7th degree black belt and 1984 World Judo Champion, Ronda took up the sport. She had a hard time socializing with other kids and found that Judo gave her confidence. She holds a 4th degree black belt in the martial art.
Ronda's Judo career is a storied one. At 17 she became the youngest judoka in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. That same year she won a gold medal at the World Junior Judo Championships in Budapest, and in 2006 she became the first U.S. female in almost 10 years to win an A-Level tournament going 5-0 to clench the gold at the World Cup in Great Britain. At 19 she won the bronze medal at the Junior World Championships. She is the first U.S. athlete to win two Junior World Medals. In 2007 she added a silver at the World Judo Championships and a gold at the Pan American Games. The pinnacle of her Judo career was a bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Rousey became the first American to win an Olympic medal in women's Judo since it became an Olympic sport in 1992.
After medaling in the Olympics, Ronda's career hit a dead end. She did some bartending to make ends meet and tried to find a better paying job, but it was tough finding anyone that needed her particular skill set. Throwing people down and putting them in armbars aren't really something you can put on a resume. By chance Ronda caught the Gina Carano vs. Julie Kedzie fight on television and things changed.
She made her mixed martial arts debut as an amateur in 2010. Since then she has never lost a fight, winning the majority in the first round by armbar submission. Ronda took it upon herself to chase after and demand attention so that the UFC could no longer ignore women fighters. UFC President Dana White had publicly stated that women would never be allowed to fight in the UFC, but on February 23, 2013, Ronda did just that. She won the fight against Liz Carmouche in the first round with her signature armbar and became the first UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion.
In 2014, Ronda appeared in her first motion picture - The Expendables 3 (2014). Other projects are Furious 7 (2015) and The Athena Project as well as Entourage (2015).Judo (4th Dan; Olympic Bronze medalist; 5-time US National Gold medalist; Pan-American Gold [3x], Silver & Bronze medalist; World Championships Silver medalist; Junior World Championships Gold medalist), Mixed Martial Arts (UFC & Strikeforce Champion; record: 12-2)
Trivia: is the first US woman to win an Olympic medal in Judo
Best seen in THE EXPENDABLES 3- Actress
- Producer
Born in New York but raised in California, Devon Aoki is no stranger to the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Her father is former Olympic wrestler and Benihana restaurant magnate Rocky Aoki and her mother is Pamela Hilburger, a jewelry designer. Devon is of Japanese (from her father) and German and English (from her mother) ancestry. She started modeling when she was 13, the same year her godmother introduced her to modeling legend Kate Moss. She is now the face of Lancome and is one of the top earners at her agency, Women.Hapkido
Trivia: holds an honorary black belt from the World Tukong Martial Arts Federation
Best seen in DOA: DEAD OR ALIVE- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Evan Rachel Wood was born September 7, 1987, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her father, Ira David Wood III, is a theatre actor, writer and director, and her mother, Sara Wood, is an actress and acting coach. She has two older brothers--Dana Wood, a musician, and Ira David Wood IV, who has also acted. Evan and her brothers sometimes performed at Theatre In The Park in Raleigh, which her father founded and where he serves as executive director.
At the age of five she screen-tested against Kirsten Dunst for the lead role in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) after a long auditioning process. She moved to Los Angeles with her mom and brother Ira in 1996 and has had success ever since, appearing in a TV series, TV movies and feature films. She has appeared in Practical Magic (1998), starred in the comedy S1m0ne (2002) as Al Pacino's daughter, and followed that with Thirteen (2003), with Holly Hunter. Her breakout role as Tracy in "Thirteen" garnered her a Golden Globes nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture: Drama and for a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. At the time of this SAG nomination, she was the youngest actress to be nominated in the Leading Role category. She received a Golden Globe and Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie" for her portrayal of Veda Pierce in the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce (2011).
She also earned acclaim for her powerful performance as Stephanie, Mickey Rourke's estranged daughter, in Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler (2008).Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: earned a black belt at age 12
Best seen in ONCE AND AGAIN- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Jessica Biel, has become one of Hollywood's most sought-out actresses. She was born in Ely, Minnesota, to Kimberly (Conroe) and Jonathan Edward Biel, who is a business consultant and GM worker. Biel was raised in Boulder, Colorado. She is of Hungarian Jewish, Danish, English, and German descent.
As a child, Biel initially pursued a career as a vocalist, performing in musical theater. Beginning at age nine, she starred in such productions as "Annie," "The Sound of Music," and "Beauty and the Beast." Biel soon turned to modeling and commercial work by competing in The International Modeling and Talent Association's Annual Conference in 1994.
Her Film debut was in the Kid's Rock Opera It's a Digital World (1994) where she demonstrated her acting and singing abilities. Her television series acting debut, playing Mary Camden on the WB's #1-rated show, 7th Heaven (1996), helped her emerge as a breakout star. She terrified moviegoers with her portrayal of Erin, "Leatherface's" greatest nemesis to date, in New Line Cinema's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), a remake of the original. Having finished filming, Blade: Trinity (2004) in Vancouver with Wesley Snipes, Ryan Reynolds, and Kris Kristofferson, she the portrayed a jet-fighter pilot in Stealth (2005), starring Josh Lucas, Jamie Foxx, and Sam Shepherd, for director Rob Cohen. Biel's film career began at age 14 when she played alongside Peter Fonda in his Golden Globe-winning performance in Ulee's Gold (1997). Her other film credits include I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998), Summer Catch (2001), Roger Avary's The Rules of Attraction (2002), and Cellular (2004), which stars Chris Evans, Kim Basinger, and William H. Macy.
In her spare time, Biel is involved with charities such as Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and PETA. Her hobbies include ballet, soccer, running, yoga and hiking with her dog "East." She resides in Los Angeles.
In 2012, she married actor and singer Justin Timberlake. The two have a son.Kickboxing
Trivia: is also a trained gymnast
Best seen in BLADE: TRINITY- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Jennifer Garner, who catapulted into stardom with her lead role on the television series Alias (2001), has come a long way from her birthplace of Houston, Texas. Raised in Charleston, West Virginia by her mother Patricia Ann (née English), a retired English teacher, and her father, Billy Jack Garner, a former chemical engineer, she is the second of their three daughters. She spent nine years of her adolescence studying ballet, and characterizes her years in dance as consisting of determination rather than talent, being driven mostly by a love of the stage.
Jennifer took this determination with her when she enrolled at Denison University as a chemistry major; later she changed her major when she discovered that her passion for the stage was stronger than her love of science. New York attracted the young actress after college, and she worked as a hostess while pursuing a career in film and television. Her most recent move has been to Los Angeles, a decision that led to a role on the television series Felicity (1998), where she met her future husband Scott Foley. The couple divorced in 2004.
Jennifer starred in the television series Alias (2001) as Agent Sydney Bristow, who works for the Central Intelligence Agency. For her work, Garner has received four consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She has also received four Golden Globe nominations and won once, as well as received two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, and won once. She has appeared in numerous other television production as well as such films as Elektra (2005), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Daredevil (2003), Pearl Harbor (2001) and Dude, Where's My Car? (2000). Aside from filming Alias (2001), Jennifer enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, and--inspired by her character on the series--kickboxing. She married actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck in 2005, now her ex-husband, with whom she has three children.Krav Maga, Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: began studying the martial arts in preparation of the below-mentioned program
Best seen in ALIAS- Actress
- Writer
Lisa Olivia Munn was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her mother, Kimberly Schmid, lived in Vietnam, and is of Chinese ancestry, while her father, Winston Barrett Munn, is from a family with deep roots in the American South. Olivia's parents divorced when she was two years old, and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, a member of the United States Air Force. Although the family departed Oklahoma and resided in many locations, she was mainly raised in Tokyo, Japan. During this time, she appeared in a number of local theater productions and later became a model in the Japanese fashion industry. When the family eventually returned to the United States, Olivia moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. After a few small roles, her career took a very promising turn when she landed the role of Mily Acuna on the Hawaii-lensed TV series Beyond the Break (2006) and the role of Rob Schneider's receptionist in Big Stan (2007). She hosts "The Daily Nut" and the "Formula D" Podcasts on G4.Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: has also studied sword-fighting
Best seen in X-MEN: APOCALYPSE- Stunts
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Rochelle is a Professional Hollywood Stunt Woman, Actress, Best Selling Author, Motivational Speaker and Co-Owner of Tristar Vancouver Martial Arts. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and began her gymnastics career at the very early age of 2. When Rochelle was 7 yrs old, both her parents decided to uproot the family and move to Leeds, England, where her father finished his PhD at Cambridge and Oxford University.
Rochelle became a member of and competed internationally for the Great Britain Gymnastics Team at the age of 9. In 1996, she became the Great Britain National Gymnastics Champion and retained the title for 3 consecutive years.
Rochelle was also nominated and awarded 'The Top Sports Person in England under the age of 13 category,' for 2 consecutive years. At the age of 14, BBC produced and aired a one hour documentary called 'Going for Gold,' focusing primarily on her goals of competing in the 2000 Olympics. Unfortunately, her dreams fell short when the International Gymnastics Federation (FGI) announced that a competitor must now be 16 years of age to compete in the Olympics. Rochelle was turning 15, and sadly, was one year shy of being eligible to qualify.
With the Olympics another 4 years out of her reach, her family decided the best thing to do was pack it in and return to Canada, in the hopes that she would continue her career on the Canadian National team. Rochelle, however had other plans. She resigned from gymnastics, attained a B.Sc. degree in Psychology from the University of Northern British Columbia in 2006. She graduated among her peers a year early, both at high school and University. After completion of her degree and graduation, Rochelle worked with and counselled children and youth with developmental disabilities, mental illnesses and behavioral issues in and outside the school system for several years.
In an effort to keep challenging herself physically and mentally, Rochelle journeyed into the world of martial arts; training and competing in the disciplines of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and fulfilling an amateur and professional Boxing career and went down in history as having the first, female professional boxing bout in British Columbia. She also attained a Personal Training Diploma and began helping others achieve their fitness goals. Rochelle is now the co-owner of a successful and very well known MMA gym located in Vancouver, BC, Canada known as, Tristar Vancouver Martial Arts. It is home to some of Canada's greatest MMA talent and home to UFC athletes and National Champions. Tristar Vancouver Martial Arts is also the National Training Center for the Canadian National MMA team.
Rochelle's books and motivational talks focus on guiding others, on how to stand in their power through overcoming their adversities and turn their pain into purpose. After facing and conquering a life full of hardships and adversity and succeeding, Rochelle is an advocate for women empowerment and helping to heal humanity; she speaks to our youth, future generations and adults and is a walking example of how you can turn a life of adversity into a life of diversity, peace and abundance. She teaches others that light can only be understood through the wisdom of darkness, and through introspection and self-love we are all capable of becoming the best versions of ourselves. You can purchase her Best Selling book, 'With Every Damn Brick,' on Amazon and watch her Tedx Talk on the official Tedx YouTube channel, under the title, 'How to turn your pain into power" or at, http://www.ted.com
With Every Damn Brick : https://www.amazon.ca/Every-Damn-Brick-Discover-Authentic/dp/1988925363/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36CWLO0FL7QGA&keywords=with+every+damn+brick&qid=1560300877&s=gateway&sprefix=with+every+damn%2Caps%2C350&sr=8-1
Website: http://www.tristarvancouver.com
Instagram: @rochelle_okoye @thirdeye.vibez @tristar_vancouverMuay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Trivia: is also a professional boxer (record: 1-0), and one of the first women to compete in British Columbia
Best seen in ARROW- Producer
- Production Manager
- Actress
Brandie Sylfae is an actor, voice over performer, and award-winning stunt performer born in Los Angeles, California. As a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do under Chuck Norris, she got her start in martial arts focused roles, including the television series V.R. Troopers and the feature film Bloodmoon. While she still enjoys a good fight scene, she is proud of her recent work as the lead in the body positivity PSA Glass Cage , the feature Deep Blue, and playing opposite Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen in The Hunger Games) in the feature Woodstock or Bust.
She began her training in the theater department at Cal State Long Beach performing roles in Inherit the Wind and Annie Get Your Gun among others, then continued her education with classes in Los Angeles where she was fortunate enough to train Shakespeare with Kate Geer, and improv with John Michalski of Second City and Paul Ryan at CBS Comedy on the Lot.
She holds an undergraduate degree in microbiology from UC Santa Barbara and a Master's degree in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University where she also worked performing basic cancer research. These days, in addition to acting, she focuses on charity work as the co-organizer of the Portland chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance, an international nonprofit focused on equality, literacy, and human rights.Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi, Kobudo
Trivia: also studies boxing and use of the long bow
Best seen in BLOODMOON- Claire Rhiannon Holt (born June 11, 1988) portrays the role of "Rebekah Mikaelson" in The Vampire Diaries (2009) and The Originals (2013). Her most notable roles are "Samara Cook" in Pretty Little Liars (2010), "Chastity Meyer" in Mean Girls 2 (2011) and "Emma Gilbert" in H2O: Just Add Water (2006).
Claire was born in Brisbane, Australia. She graduated from Stuartholme School in Toowong at the end of 2005. She is involved in several sports: swimming, volleyball, water polo, and Tae-Kwon-Do, in which she has a black belt. When she was younger, she was in her school's choir.
In 2006, she won the role of "Emma Gilbert" in the Network Ten children's television series, H2O: Just Add Water (2006). The show has earned a Logie Award and Nickelodeon Australia Kids' Choice Award. While the series was renewed for a third series, she left the show after series two, after signing on for the sequel to the 2007 film, The Messengers (2007), titled Messengers 2: The Scarecrow (2009). Filming took place in Sofia, Bulgaria throughout 2008. Starring alongside Norman Reedus and Heather Stephens, the film was released 21 July 2009 straight-to-DVD. In August 2011, she was confirmed to be in the TV series, The Vampire Diaries (2009) as "Rebekah Mikaelson". In addition to television and film roles, she has appeared in advertisements for Dreamworld theme park, Sizzler Restaurant, and Queensland Surf Lifesaving. BuddyTV ranked her #55 on its TV's 100 Sexiest Women of 2011 list.Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: also enjoys swimming, volleyball, and water polo
Best seen in THE VAMPIRE DIARIES - Actress
- Director
- Writer
Caitlin Marie Lotz (born December 30, 1986) is an American actress, dancer, and singer. She is known for her roles as Stephanie Horton in Mad Men (2007), Officer Kirsten Landry in the MTV mockumentary series Death Valley (2011), as Annie in The Pact (2012), and as Sara Lance/White Canary in The CW's Arrowverse television series, where she has appeared in Arrow (2012), DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016), The Flash (2014), and Supergirl (2015). She is also a co-founder of SheThority, a women empowerment organization.
Lotz started her career as a dancer, touring with Avril Lavigne and Lady Gaga, and starring in music videos including Lady Gaga: Paparazzi (2009) and Lady Gaga: LoveGame (2009), David Guetta Feat. Estelle: One Love (2009), Selena Gomez: Tell Me Something I Don't Know (2008), Faith Evans' "Mesmerized", T-Pain's "Freeze", JoJo: Baby It's You (2004), Cascada: Evacuate the Dancefloor (2009), Kaci Brown's "Instigator (album)", and Leehom Wang's "Gai Shi Ying Xiong". Lotz appeared on Dancing with the Stars (2005) season 8, as Lady Gaga's back-up dancer for the song "LoveGame". Her Avril Lavigne tour performance was released on the video Avril Lavigne: The Best Damn Tour - Live in Toronto (2008).
Lotz appeared in adverts for Jack in the Box, Reebok, and T-Mobile, danced in the web series The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, toured with the hip hop theatre production Groovaloo, and stunt-doubled in films including Step Up 3D.
In 2005, Lotz joined the girl group Soccx. In 2006, the group released their debut single "From Dusk Till Dawn (Get the Party Started)", which they followed up in 2007 with the single "Scream Out Loud", both of which reached the top 10 in Germany. Their debut album, Hold On, was also released in 2007, and their third single, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", was released in 2008.
Lotz has model-led for Men's Health and Esquire, the latter in conjunction with the website Me in My Place.
Lotz did her acting training at Sanford Meisner for two years. Lotz began her acting career in 2006 with a small role in the cheer-leading film Bring It on: All or Nothing (2006). She followed that up in 2010 with a part in the third episode of Law & Order: LA (2010) and a recurring role in the fourth season of the AMC drama Mad Men (2007) as Stephanie, Anna Draper's niece. In 2011, Lotz starred as Officer Kirsten Landry, one of the main characters in the MTV horror, black comedy mockumentary series Death Valley (2011). Lotz performs all her own stunts on the show.
In 2012, Lotz had roles in Live at the Foxes Den (2013), Battle of the Year (2013) alongside Josh Holloway and alongside Casper Van Dien and Agnes Bruckner in the supernatural thriller The Pact (2012), which debuted at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and has been picked up for distribution. Lotz also appears starting in season 2 of Arrow (2012) as Sara Lance, a character believed dead who returns as a costumed vigilante known as The Canary.
She stars as Sara Lance/White Canary in DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016), an Arrow spin-off. She had the lead role in the science fiction film The Machine (2013), which had its UK release on March 21, 2014 and had its US release on April 25, 2014. In May 2014, she reprized her role as Stephanie in the seventh season of Mad Men. She also played Dr. Emily McTier in the TV film 400 Days (2015), along with co-star on Legends, Brandon Routh in 2016.
Lotz is a martial artist, with some training in taekwondo, wushu, Krav Maga, kali martial arts and muay Thai. She is also a practitioner of parkour and tricking. Lotz has trained with Steve Terada and Wayne Dalglish.Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Wushu, Escrima
Trivia: also enjoys parkour
Best seen in ARROW- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Born in Toronto, Canada, Laura Vandervoort is a versatile actress who not only crosses over genres, but also transforms from character to character embracing the essence of every role she plays. Best known for her roles on the television shows "Smallville" as Supergirl, and "V," Laura has built an international fan base of men and women of all ages. Between her experience and stellar acting chops, Laura has been consistently working as an actress since she was thirteen years old.
Laura first began her career in background work as a child on Canadian commercials and TV shows. This led her into the hands of Disney, where she starred in several now classic Halloween movies as well as several kids tv series.
Laura's career took off from there and the consistently working actress would be seen in many projects such as the series "Instant Star" which went for 4 seasons, the feature, "The Lookout," starring Joseph Gordon Lovitt and Jeff Daniels, "Smallville," where she portrayed the iconic character 'Supergirl.' She worked alongside Ray Liotta in the feature, "The Entitled" and many more. Laura then booked a series regular for ABC's sci-fi series "V" among Elizabeth Mitchell ("Lost") and Scott Wolf ("Party of Five") and then booked feature films including a role in "This Means War" starring Reese Witherspoon and Chris Pine and "Ted" directed by Seth Macfarlane, starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. Laura would soon after star in "Jigsaw," (Number one at the box office for its first run) the most recent of the horror film series "Saw."
Laura would then lead the sci fi-action series "Bitten" for Syfy and the Space network. The series ran for three successful seasons and is now a popular stream on Netflix. With high praise critically and a large fan following the series gained strength and praise for both performance and cinematography.
Laura has been developing and producing films and has found another passion working behind the camera. In 2019, Laura developed, executive produced and starred in film festival favorite, 'Age Of Dysphoria' alongside Canadian icon Gordon Pinsent. Laura recently had her directorial debut with 'My Soul to Take,' a short film Laura also wrote, starring Colm Feore. During the 2020 pandemic, Laura shot 5 feature films and an anticipated guest spot on the critically acclaimed series 'Handmaid's Tale.' Laura wrapped the lead role in a feature film thriller entitled 'Black Bags' in Oklahoma at the beginning of 2022 and her production company "Lava Works Entertainment Inc." currently has three films in development.
Laura has also just released her first children's book worldwide on Amazon. The book, 'Super-Duper Deelia' marks her entry as a published writer in the children literary world. Most recently Laura has joined the cast of the CTV/CW series, 'Sullivan's Crossing' starring Chad Michael Murray.Karate (2nd Dan)
Trivia: prefers to perform her own stunts
Best seen in BITTEN