'I think that it’s in my blood at this stage’: Cork stunt performer shares tales from her Hollywood career

Clonakilty native Avril Murphy has brushed shoulders with many famous faces throughout her career as a stunt performer and double 

Stunt performer Avril Murphy pictured with Jane Seymour who she doubled up for in the past. File picture

She is a fixture on Hollywood film sets, dodging explosions and engaging in hardcore fighting, but Avril Murphy’s face is rarely visible on screen.

Despite sharing sets with stars such as Hugh Grant and Jane Seymour, the stunt performer is more likely to be spotted enjoying time with friends and family in her hometown of Clonakilty in West Cork.

Locals are particularly excited about her contribution to the new film, Other Mommy, which stars Jessica Chastain and is set for release in October.

The psychological horror centres around an eight-year-old girl named Bela who forges a sinister bond with a paranormal creature identical to her mother.

Avril Murphy is no stranger to the film’s lead, Chastain, whom she doubled as a stunt performer for in the 2022 spy thriller film The 355.

The movie was shot on location in Paris during the Summer of 2019.

While she was expected to be Chastain’s stunt double in Other Mommy, the Cork woman ended up taking on an alternative stunt role that proved challenging in other ways.

“One of the stunt coordinators got in touch with me and initially asked if I would double for ‘my old friend’ Jessica Chastain again,” she told the Irish Examiner.“I went up, and it turned out that between the jigs and the reels, one of my friends — who is also a stunt performer — was better suited for Jessica this time around.

“People’s bodies can change over time, which naturally is going to impact the likeness. I was really happy for my friend and was glad to be able to still perform stunts in the same movie.”

Avril undertook intense training for the production, which was filmed in Dublin and Wicklow.

“It was more challenging mentally than any of the other stunts I’ve performed. We had to contort our bodies and try to grab the actors while making these horrible noises. The stunts were kind of crazy since this is such a dark movie.”

The performer was glad to be reunited with a familiar face.

“Jessica Chastain and I said hello to one another, but it was difficult to find time to chat since the set was so busy. It was really nice to see her in Ireland, though.”

Avril described the stunts she performed in conjunction with a number of other performers.

“The goal was to try and grab this actor in the scene and pull him towards us. It involved lots of frantic arms and bodies contorting towards him. You have to embody this horrendous kind of horrible creature.

US actress and producer Jessica Chastain. File picture: Frederic J Brown/ AFP/Getty

“The only way I can describe it is like a shapeshifter who emerges from the darkness and becomes the kind of horrible creature you see in horror films.”

She explained how she got into character. “I suppose I’ve always loved acting, and I wanted to incorporate this into my stunts. Any chance I get to embody a character is always positive.

“We all get the background of the story and what’s going on in the scene, but it’s nice to really embody it. We rehearsed for a while and did a lot of training around how to move our bodies.

“There were a lot of contorted movements that they wanted to portray in the scenes. The hands had to move in a particular way that made them seem quite creepy and horrible.

“Even if my face isn’t seen, I can still use my acting. It helps with what they’re trying to portray, so there is always an opportunity to use it.”

Avril, who began her career as a professional dancer, cited her mother as her greatest support and inspiration.

“Mum had always wanted to be an actress. She was so supportive when I left school at 15 to pursue my dream of becoming a professional dancer. My mum taught me for a while in secondary school, and was sick of seeing me gazing out the window day-dreaming.

She realised how important this was to me. She would have made a brilliant actor. However, back then, getting a permanent job was expected.

“She’s really glad to see what I’m doing now. On her 70th birthday, I was doubling for Jessica Chastain in Paris.

“At the time, I was feeling really guilty because I didn’t have time to buy her a present. She told me that it didn’t matter to her because having a daughter double for Jessica Chastain was the best birthday present she could have ever received.”

Avril has always stayed grounded and even worked as a healthcare assistant in between stunt jobs.

“A lot of the older people were blown away when I told them about my stunt work. Movies to them are very glamorous, so it was really nice for them to hear all about the stunts.

“It was a really nice talking point for them because their days are much the same, and this was really different. I was glad that telling them about my adventures made them that bit happier.

Stunt performer Avril Murphy, who has made a name for herself in the stunt world. File picture

“Some told me that they couldn’t believe that a girl from West Cork was doing stunts for movies, which was really nice to hear. The staff were also very much taken aback by the contrast.

“They found it difficult to believe that while I was at the centre of these heavy hits and big fights on set, I was also this gentle, soft, lady that the patients could really relate to.”

Avril, whose other credits include D ungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), and The Bubble (2022), once considered retiring from the industry.

“Years ago, I had thought about retiring, but it always pulls me back. I think it’s in my blood at this stage. As someone who has been a professional dancer for most of my life, I love to move and use my body in different ways. The work is very tough. As well as being physical on the body, it can be very sporadic, but I really love it.”

The stunt performer has never forgotten her roots.

“I’ve got to work with amazing people and experience great opportunities, but despite this, I’m always grateful. It’s nice to stay humble, so I guess I never really got carried away too much.

“A lot of this is probably down to my upbringing. I was taught to be nice to those on the way up because you never know who you’ll meet on the way down. Knowing this keeps me grounded for sure.”