December 14th 2024.
Many women who work as stunt performers are speaking out against a controversial practice in the UK film industry known as "wigging." This issue has been brought to light during the #MeToo movement, which has shed light on the toxic behavior that has long been present in the entertainment industry. Despite efforts to address these issues, there are still significant barriers for women trying to succeed in show business.
This is especially true for stunt women, who often face discrimination in the form of lower booking rates compared to their male counterparts. One particularly unfair practice, according to stunt coordinator Tiger Lilli Rudge, is "wigging." This is when male stunt performers are hired to double for female actresses, sometimes wearing wigs and heavy makeup. While this used to be common due to the lack of women working in stunts, Rudge argues that this is no longer the case.
Rudge, who worked as a stunt performer for 15 years, is dismayed by how prevalent this practice still is in British film and TV. She believes that the US does a better job of ensuring female stunt doubles are used whenever possible, while the UK lags behind. This means that women trying to break into the industry in the UK have very limited opportunities.
The issue of "wigging" is also influenced by unconscious bias among film executives who may not see women as capable of performing action sequences, especially ones that involve violence or weapons. Rudge believes that this stereotype is unjustified and is holding women back from pursuing careers in stunts. She points out that many actors and actresses work with the same stunt double throughout their careers, so it is possible for women to build successful careers in this field.
In the UK, the main route to becoming a stunt double for film and TV is through the British Stunt Register, which is a rigorous and expensive training program. Participants are required to achieve qualifications in six disciplines, including gymnastics, trampolining, diving, horse riding, driving, and a martial art. While it is challenging for anyone to break into this industry, the barriers are even higher for women, who may feel excluded from what has traditionally been a male-dominated field.
As of this year, only 25% of the British Stunt Register is made up of women, and as long as "wigging" remains a common practice, it is unlikely that this number will increase significantly. In light of this issue, Rudge encourages anyone with a story to share to come forward. Whether it's a personal experience or evidence of this practice in the industry, she believes that speaking out can help bring about much-needed change.
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