In 2019, during the tail end of filming Avengers: Endgame, I experienced the moment that still scars me to this day. It started like most stunt days: an ungodly early call-time, a frantic rush to get camera-ready, followed by hours of quality time in my trailer doing absolutely nothing. After about 8-10 hours of waiting, a knock on my trailer door finally came: “Shauna, we need you on set immediately.”
That day, I was doubling Gwyneth Paltrow, a.k.a. Rescue. Because her and Robert Downey Jr.’s (Iron Man) characters are mostly CGI, I was rocking a very chic motion capture suit. For those unfamiliar, it’s basically the world’s ugliest, skin-tight pajama set with Velcro balls attached for tracking in post. On top of that, I was wearing the actual Rescue chest plate—a form-fitting masterpiece designed for Gwyneth. Since she and I are exactly the same size, it fit like a glove.
As I hurried to the stage, still clueless about what I was supposed to do, the Assistant Director (AD) approached me. Walking briskly, he explained, “Gwyneth had to leave, so you’re doubling for her in the scene where Iron Man dies. The camera will be over your shoulder… oh, and make sure you get really close to him it’s a tight shot. No stunts just acting.”
Cue internal confusion. NO STUNT? I must act?!?
I step onto the set and immediately freeze. Every superhero in the Marvel universe is there: Thor, Spider-Man, Captain America, Falcon—all of them. I had a brief existential crisis: “Why couldn’t I just do a stunt, hit the ground, no? Why must I act?”
Before I could process anything, the AD vanished, and there I was, face-to-face with Robert Downey Jr., lying on the ground and smiling up at me. I don’t think there’s a word for the feeling that hit me. It was somewhere between utter terror and my-soul- has-left-the-building. WTF am I suppose to do in front of everyone again?
RDJ introduced himself. I said, “Hi, I’m Shauna, just a stuntwoman,” because apparently, I needed him to know that in case I sucked. He smiled and said, “Just act sad that I’m dying. That’s it.” Oh, sure, that’s it!
“Ready, and ACTION!”
With zero preparation and every superhero staring at me, I did what any self-respecting stuntwoman would do: I started sobbing uncontrollably. Like, full-on ugly crying.
Seconds later: “CUT!”
RDJ, still smiling, gave me a gentle note: “Relax. Have fun. Don’t move so much.” Cool. Got it. Relax in front of Thor and Captain America while holding Iron Man as he dies. No pressure.
Take two.
“Ready, and ACTION!”
This time, I tried to tone it down. Thoughts raced through my head: Less movement. Just be sad. But not too sad. Is my head moving? Maybe it should move a little. Or a lot.
Oh no, I’m moving too much again. Abort! Abort!
“CUT!”
RDJ looked at me again, still patient. “Less is more, Shauna.”
Cue the internal pep talk: Just sit still. Don’t move. They’ll never remember you. Just survive this scene.
Take three.
I knelt beside RDJ, my face inches from his, close enough to smell what he had for lunch. “ACTION!” My brain went into hyperdrive: Less is more. Don’t move. Wait, should I move? Maybe just a little? Crap, I moved again.
Before I knew it, I heard laughter. Laughter! Thor (Chris Hemsworth) elbowed this Actor and said, “Hey, that’s not cool,” but the damage was done. Someone was absolutely losing it at my Oscar-worthy performance.
“CUT! That’s a wrap for today!”
Dead. Not RDJ. Me. I wanted to sink into the Earth and never resurface. As RDJ stood up, he smiled and said, “Good job, kid. Nice to meet you.” I somehow mustered a smile, but inside, I was planning my relocation to another Universe.
To this day, every time I see that actor in a new movie, I think, Thank the heavens I didn’t have to work with him again. He might not remember me, but I will never forget the most embarrassing moment of my stunt career.
After all of that, my head didn’t even make the cut, just my hand…
