6 Actors That Do Their Own Stunts!

Acting is a tough job that requires hours of determination and effort, often pushing actors to their limits. Yet, some actors take it even further by doing their own stunts. Here’s a list with some of Hollywood’s real-life daredevils – and a few might really shock you!

1. Tom Cruise

Over the years, Tom Cruise has earned a notable reputation for doing his own stunts. He started his action career in 1986 with the movie Top Gun and has since become a household name in the genre where he is especially renowned for doing his own stunts. The wildest one has to be his stunt in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation where he held onto the side of an Airbus A400 going at 160mph. And for eight takes!

2. Daniel Craig

Known for his charming and hard-edge portrayal of James Bond, Daniel Craig seems to carry a touch of that wild streak in real life. Despite his fear of heights, Craig stops at nothing to give us the best 007. Taking this into consideration, the opening parkour scene from Casino Royale seems even more impressive, which Craig did completely by himself.

3. Cameron Diaz

While she may be best known for her effortless comedic timing and incredible rom-com charm, Cameron Diaz is also a total badass who does her own stunts! In Knight and Day, Diaz and Tom Cruise sped through the Spanish city of Cádiz on motorcycles. While some of the scene was shot with stunt doubles, the two actors did really ride alongside a stampeding herd of bulls. Very brave!

4. Christian Bale

Christian Bale is known for his intense method acting where he often pushes himself to his limits, from dramatic weight changes to doing his own stunts. Not surprising then that his performance as Batman has become one of the most iconic iterations of the superhero. In the movie Dark Knight, Bale risked it all for a great performance by standing on the edge of 1,450 foot tall skyscraper. Good thing that he kept cool!

5. Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie doesn’t just play tough women – she is one. There is no doubt that she is a great actress, but in the 2012 movie Salt, she showed just how dedicated she is. From leaping off a bridge into a container to riding a motorcycle and jumping in between trucks, Angelina Jolie is a real dare devil!

6. Jackie Chan

Of course, our list wouldn’t be complete without talking about Jackie Chan. As arguably one of the greatest martial artists and action movie stars, Jackie Chan could have a stunt list of his own. However, one of his most notable stunts has to be the pole slide in Police Story. Not only did Chan have only one shot for this stunt, but it also gave him second degree burns on his hands! It seems like truly nothing can stop Jackie Chan.

(Fun Fact: In 1976 Jackie Chan formed his own company that works with stuntmen to choreograph stunts called The JC Stunt Team.)