Actresses Who Body-Shamed Their Own Stunt Doubles

Stunt doubles are essential for dangerous sequences and often serve as body doubles for intimate or exposing scenes to protect a star’s privacy. While the goal is a seamless visual match, actresses sometimes find themselves at odds with the physical appearance of their stand-ins. Whether out of insecurity, a desire for realism, or frustration with industry standards, some stars have publicly criticized or rejected the bodies of the professionals hired to replace them. These instances highlight the intense scrutiny placed on women’s bodies in Hollywood even when those bodies are meant to remain invisible illusions.

Lena Dunham

The creator of ‘Girls’ was adamant about maintaining a specific level of realism regarding her on-screen nudity and body representation. Dunham stated in interviews that she refused to employ a stunt double who she felt was too physically fit compared to her own natural physique. She specifically noted that she did not want a woman who was “22 and made of Pilates” standing in for her during the show’s production. Dunham insisted she would not allow a double with a “tighter ass” to portray her character because she prioritized a match that truthfully reflected her own body image.

Keira Knightley

While filming the action movie ‘Domino’, Knightley required a body double for a provocative lap dance scene involving her character. The actress openly compared her physique to that of the hired professional and described the double as having the “thighs of a goddess.” Knightley self-deprecatingly referred to her own legs as “twigs” in contrast to the double’s more muscular and curvaceous build. This public comparison highlighted the distinct physical discrepancy between the star’s slender frame and the athletic build possessed by the stunt performer.

Julie Bowen

The ‘Modern Family’ star expressed frustration regarding the physical perfection of her stunt double during the show’s long television run. In a talk show appearance, Bowen described the double as being extremely young with a posterior that one could “bounce a quarter off of.” She contrasted this with her own physique and noted the awkwardness of sharing a role with someone in such peak physical condition. The comments underscored the star’s insecurity when faced with a younger and fitter professional who was meant to be her physical twin.

Mila Kunis

For the film ‘Friends with Benefits’, Kunis was personally involved in the casting process to select a butt double for specific skin-baring scenes. She described the experience of viewing multiple candidates to find a posterior that realistically matched her own without looking surgically enhanced. Kunis noted that she rejected several women because their bodies looked “fake” or too perfect compared to her natural physique. The actress insisted on finding a double that would not pull the audience out of the movie with an unbelievably flawless appearance.

Isla Fisher

During the filming of the comedy ‘Keeping Up with the Joneses’, Fisher found herself working with a stunt double while she was in the midst of breastfeeding her child. She jokingly complained that the double possessed “perky boobs” that defied gravity which created a noticeable continuity issue with her own changing body. Fisher remarked that the physical difference was so significant that the double looked like a “different species” compared to her post-partum figure. These comments drew attention to the often unrealistic body standards maintained by stunt performers compared to the stars they emulate.

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