UPK Book Shines Spotlight on Special Breed in Hollywood — Stuntwomen

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 11, 2016) — The entertainment industry has begun preparing for one of Hollywood's finest awards presentations, the Taurus World Stunt Awards Sunday, May 15, where the best stuntwomen and men in the industry will be recognized for their extraordinary performances in feature films of 2015.

While Hollywood is busy assembling for the Taurus Awards, University Press of Kentucky (UPK) author Mollie Gregory is breaking the glass ceiling with her new book, "Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story," highlighting the history, accomplishments and continued struggles of stuntwomen in Hollywood.

Since the beginning of film, women have been competing in a heavily male-dominated career. For more than a century, they have faced sexism and flown hundreds of feet through the air. They have confronted unequal pay and driven sports cars recklessly around obstacles. And they continue to endure sexual harassment and rigorous physical challenges today.

"Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story" is an account of 65 brave women Gregory interviewed, as well as a testament to all those who faced and overcame prejudice in the industry. Gregory showcases the enthralling stories and uncommon courage of women who make their living trading punches, crashing cars and planes, leaping across buildings, and making feats of daring look easy to keep viewers’ hearts racing. 

Gregory's book is the first book to tell the full history of stuntwomen in film and television. She describes the first stuntwomen in film, the rise and fall of stuntwomen during the feminist and civil rights movements in the 1960s and '70s, and today’s technological advancements and how they have been incorporated into stuntwork.

Women first made their appearances as stunt doubles in the 1910s, before films even had dialogue. These women were revolutionaries in a time when women were still considered property. However, the freedom women had to appear on screen was soon diminished. With cinema’s rise in popularity, men began to take over major roles and reap the profits. Males began to double female stars, wearing wigs and dresses to play the parts. For decades, women had scant opportunity to work as stunt doubles. Women were seen as the weaker sex, and movie studios refused to hire them for fear that they could not complete taxing physical gags. The advent of television gave women the opportunity to perform stunt work, albeit not on the big screen.

The women’s and civil rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s happened not only across the United States, but also within the film industry. Stuntwomen came together to fight the oppression they experienced. Slowly but surely, the political and social climate in America began to change. Although they were still met with resistance from many powerful men in film, women were once again presented with a multitude of stunt work opportunities.

Today’s moviegoers know more about the behind-the-scenes process of filmmaking than ever before. With the utilization of green screens, CGI and suspension wires, stunt work is safer — and more digitized — than in the past. But filmmakers still understand the importance of bringing thrill to the scene. Stunt people are still as important as ever to the cinematic experience, giving the audience a sense of reality and adrenaline. Stuntwomen still face the gender inequalities they always have, but there is more opportunity for them both in positions as stunt doubles and even as stunt coordinators, a job that has been historically male-dominated. Additionally, respect for stunt work as a profession has grown exponentially over the years, a change that indicates the growth of acceptance in the film industry.

Gregory is also the author of "Women Who Run the Show: How a Brilliant and Creative New Generation of Women Stormed Hollywood, 1973–2000."

UPK is the scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, representing a consortium that includes all of the state universities, five private colleges, and two historical societies. The press’ editorial program focuses on the humanities and the social sciences. Offices for the administrative, editorial, production and marketing departments of the press are found at the University of Kentucky, which provides financial support toward the operating expenses of the publishing operation through the UK Libraries.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu.