Movie magic 
Christiaan (left) is a stunt double for Gal Gadot (right). The black dots you see help computer artists put Gal’s face over hers in the final movie. 

Courtesy of Christiaan Bettridge

CCSS

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Meet a Real-Life Superhero

Christiaan Bettridge is a stunt double for Gal Gadot, the star of Wonder Woman 1984. Would you want her job? 

Courtesy of Christiaan Bettridge

Christiaan hangs from wires in front of a green screen—which can be replaced with any background. In the movie, it will look like she’s flying!

    She fights bad guys, jumps off buildings, and flies through the air. And guess what? It’s all just another day at work for Christiaan Bettridge. She’s a stunt performer for TV shows and movies. That means she takes the place of actors when their characters need to do something dangerous. 

    You can see Christiaan in the upcoming movie Wonder Woman 1984. We talked to her about what it’s like to step in for a superhero.

Diana Robertson Photography

    How do you become a stunt performer?

    Many stunt performers used to be athletes, but being a former dancer helped me. Every fight and stunt is choreographed—or planned out step-by-step. I master the moves quickly because I spent so many years learning dance routines.

    What did you do to prepare for Wonder Woman 1984?

    We practiced fighting with different weapons, like swords and staffs. I also spent a lot of time working out in the gym. Superheroes need to be strong! 

    What’s the craziest stunt you’ve ever done?

    I once walked through a field as explosions were going off around me. It was epic.

    Is your job dangerous?

    Sometimes accidents happen. But the people I work with do everything they can to make sure I finish a job unscathed. For example, we always practice a sword fight with soft swords first. Then we move on to the metal ones.

    What’s the best part of your job?

    I was a big fan of Wonder Woman when I was a kid. I love that I get to pretend to be someone that I grew up wanting to be. 

    What advice do you have for young athletes and dancers?

    You don’t have to be an athlete or dancer forever. But training and working hard now will show you that you can do anything. Just don’t forget to enjoy yourself too! 

ACTIVITY: 
Mini Skills Workout

Christiaan hopes to finish her job unscathed. What’s another word she could have used? Write it on a separate piece of paper.

What were two things Christiaan did to prepare for Wonder Woman 1984?

Find a sentence where Christiaan explains how her dance background has helped her. Write it on a separate piece of paper.

Skills Sheets (1)
Printables (1)
Text-to-Speech