Army of the Dead star on her stunt double beginnings – from Man of Steel heroics to fighting Eva Green’s battles

Stunt double and actress Samantha Win is the definition of a badass, taking on the action on films like Man Of Steel and 300: Rise of An Empire, and training the actresses for their parts.

Samantha has doubled the likes of Eva Green, Antje Traue, and even Kristen Stewart on Twilight: Breaking Dawn , revealing about what it’s like working so closely with the actresses, and quite literally fighting their battles.

She didn’t stop there, however, as she’s also now an actress in her own right, most recently starring in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead and bringing her action skills with her to the role.

As part of our series, Seeing Double, which looks into the extraordinary lives of some of film and TV’s most fearless performers – stunt doubles – we talk to Samantha.

She reflected on the most memorable stunts of her career, fighting battles alongside Henry Cavill and Amy Adams, and making it as an actress after her background in stunts.

Samantha’s stunt double CV

• Samantha got into stunts after starting martial arts at age four. Her first on-screen role was 2009, and the rest is history
• She’s performed in films like Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, TV series like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and even for video games like Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
• Samantha has doubled actresses including Kristen Stewart, Eva Green, and Jena Malone, and is now an actress in her own right, most recently starring in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead

What were the most memorable stunts?

‘When it comes to sequences and gags that I’m proud of, for Man of Steel, the entire Smallville sequence was like living on cloud nine. Just being on set, seeing Henry in his suit for the first time with his cape,’ Samantha explained.

‘And to be in Smallville, solidified on camera for all eternity, that was more than a dream come true.’

‘On Man of Steel, we started in February and then we didn’t get to shooting until maybe August, and we didn’t finish until the next February. So that was a full year of production and the gags and the wire movements, they all change dependent on the strength of everybody,’ she continued.

‘It was a bit more difficult to pre-set any choreography. If Antje Traue was more comfortable with one way versus another, it would get switched.’

‘For 300: Rise of an Empire, the thing that stands out most to me was the kind of character Artemisia was. Any time I was doubling the character, there would be a whole army behind me,’ Samantha added. ‘Whether it was jumping ship to ship, fighting with swords, or any of the horse work, there’s a whole army behind you, so it really gives you the feeling of being that kind of leader.

‘The choreography, given that she has double swords, was so much fun to play with, so that part really sticks out. How often do you get to use double swords, dressed in the kind of bodice armour that she has, fighting on a ship with hundreds of people at your side?!’

Who most wanted to do their own stunts?

‘Most of the actors I’ve worked with have been extremely ambitious and gung-ho when it comes to any stunt they’re allowed to do, that production will let them do. Antje loved to be on the wires, she loved to be doing all the body movements, she loved fighting all the soldiers,’ Samantha recalled.

‘Eva Green was very unique in that she was very happy to let the stunt double or whoever she thought was best for the character go ahead and do it. She’s such a sweet person, the one thing that sticks out to me was not her wanting to do a stunt, but her really not wanting me to do a stunt because she was worried for my safety!

‘The thing that made it so sweet was the stunt was just jumping off of a three or four-foot ledge which, by our standards, is not a big deal.’

What was it like working with the Man of Steel cast?

‘I also got to play a small role in [Man Of Steel] so I was one of Antje’s right-hand people as well, so I got to watch her work and her process. She’s an amazing actress and she fully dives into any character that she portrays, so to be standing beside her when we’re walking Lois Lane and Superman up to the Black Zero [was amazing].

‘It was just us four and I remember looking to my left, and it was Henry, and then Amy Adams and then Antje, and I was like “This is a pretty neat moment,” just getting to watch everyone’s preparation.

‘I really treasured how focused Antje was, she was the most focused out of everyone. And Henry and Amy were amazing, they could just be chipper and joking around right up until they called action.’

How have stunts helped her as an actress?

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Samantha is now an actress, and doesn’t work so much in the stunt world – but her background has helped her massively in her roles, including in her most recent performance in Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead.

‘I’ve most definitely brought elements from my stunt career into every character that I’ve portrayed so far, most recently on Army of the Dead,’ she explained.

‘Even Man of Steel or on Wonder Woman, working with the stunt team very closely – I’ve been very fortunate to have that bodily experience, when I do fight scenes, I have an extra awareness now.’

Plus, she’ll never forget her roots, and has been inspired by ‘some of the greatest stunt women in the world,’ specifying her colleagues Shauna Duggins, Heidi Moneymaker and Ming Qui.

‘It really gave women in stunts a special place in my heart.’

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