Why female stunt doubles think the British film practice of ‘wigging’ needs to end-Brooke Ivey Johnson-Entertainment – Metro

Some stunt women are calling for an end to ‘wigging’ on UK sets (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

The #MeToo era brought a lot of toxic behaviour in the film industry to light, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still major glass ceilings for women trying to make it in show business. 

This is particularly true for stunt women, many of whom are still getting booked less than their male counterparts.

One practice, called ‘wigging,’ is particularly unfair to female stuntwomen, according to stunt co-ordinator Tiger Lilli Rudge.

Wigging is when a male stunt performer doubles for a female actress, often wearing a wig and heavy make up. 

This is used to be the norm across film and television, as there were very few women working in stunts. But that’s no longer the case, Rudge told Sky News: ‘The excuse that they use is that they had to use the man because there wasn’t a woman to do the job, and I can tell you that that is absolutely rubbish because I know hundreds of women that are capable car drivers, bikers, whatever, there’s so much talent out there.’

Rudge was a stunt performer for 15 years, and can’t believe how common the practice remains in British film and TV. 

‘Wigging’ refers to the practice of male stunt doubles putting on a wig in order to double for actresses (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)

She adds: ‘From my point of view, it’s heartbreaking. Women put in all the time and effort and are more than capable to do a job…and then you put a wig on a man.’

Rudge believes America is far better about ensuring female stunt doubles are used as often as possible and that the UK is far behind, meaning that women trying to break into the industry here have very few opportunities.

She continued, saying that she thinks the practice is also influenced by unconscious bias in film executives who don’t think action sequences – particularly violent ones that include weapons or fighting – are the business of women. 

Many actors and actresses work with the same stunt double throughout their careers (Picture: ACau/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock)

She said: ‘There is a stereotype with women for some reason that they aren’t as good as men.’

In the UK, if you want to become a stunt double for film and TV, the clearest path is through the elite British Stunt Register.

The course is rigorous and expensive (£30,000), demanding that those who participate achieve qualifications in six disciplines, including gymnastics, trampolining, diving, horse riding and driving, and a martial art.

While its hard for anyone to break into the stunt industry, the bar is especially high for women, who feel barred from what’s historically been a boys club.

As of this year, the British Stunt Register was only around 25% comprised of women and as long as wigging remains a common practice, that number is unlikely to grow.

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