Heidi Moneymaker attended the University of California, where she joined the gymnastics group and became uneven bars and vault team champion in 1997 and 2000 and individual champion in 1998 and 1999. As a skilled gymnast, Heidi competed in the 1999 World University Games and received two Honda Award nominations. With this skilled background, she made the step and has worked as a stuntwoman and stunt actress on television series and films since 2002.
24, Hancock, Mission Impossible III, My Name Is Earl, Serenity, Spider-Man 3 and Star Trek are just a few of the many well known and high profile movies and TV shows that Heidi has done stunt work for and I was lucky enough to be able to get in touch with her recently to ask her about some of her latest projects including being Scarlett Johansson’s stunt double in Marvel Studios‘ Iron Man 2!
JOSHW: What made you decide to go into stunt work?
HEIDI MONEYMAKER: When I finished competing for UCLA, I got a talent agent and started going on auditions for commercials. A friend of mine called me and asked if I could work on a TV show as a gymnastics double.
JOSHW: What was your first big break into the industry?
HEIDI MONEYMAKER: I worked on a couple shows that year and was lucky enough to be hired as one of Drew Barrymore's doubles on
Charlie's Angels 2. After that I trained really hard and started working pretty regularly.
JOSHW: Do you have a film in particular that’s been your favourite to work on?
HEIDI MONEYMAKER: It is hard to pick just one film that stands out as my favorite. I worked on a film last year called,
Sucker Punch. It was one of my best experiences.
JOSHW: Anything you can tell us about that movie?
HEIDI MONEYMAKER: I was the stunt double for Emily Browning. I don't know how much I can say about the film, as it doesn't come out until next year, but working Zac Snyder was such a pleasure. The entire
Sucker Punch team was like a well oiled machine. It really was one of my best experiences.
JOSHW: How was it working on a movie like Iron Man 2?
HEIDI MONEYMAKER: Iron Man 2 was an amazing experience and getting to fight as Black Widow was very cool. Both Scarlett Johannson and John Faverau were some of my favorite people to work with.
JOSHW: What was it like training alongside Scarlett for a character like Black Widow?
HEIDI MONEYMAKER: Scarlett underwent extensive training to become Black Widow. We rehearsed for months before her big fight. She trained daily with a personal trainer and would then come in and learn fighting skills, choreography and stunts involving wires.
JOSHW: Were you pleased with the final result?
HEIDI MONEYMAKER: Tom Harper, the stunt coordinator and Jonathan Eusebio, the fight choreographer, really did an amazing job of creating the action of Black Widow. I think Scarlett did a great job in her portrayal of Black Widow. I am excited to see what she does with the character in the future.
JOSHW: What’s next for you?
HEIDI MONEYMAKER: I also worked on the new TV show,
No Ordinary Family, doubling Julie Benz. We worked together for the first time on
Rambo 4. Julie is one of my favorite actresses to work with. She is great at what she does and is always excited to do as much of the stunt work as she can. I really love when I get to work with Julie. It is always a great day at work!
I would have course like to say a big thank you to Heidi for taking the time out of her busy schedule filming down in New Mexico to talk to me and answer my questions. You can find out more about her work by clicking
HERE and can follow Heidi on Facebook
HERE. Thanks for reading and be sure to share your thoughts in the usual place!