She fights, she drives cars at breakneck speed, she jumps out of planes and helicopters … these are just a few of the talents of Mahsa Ahmadi, the best stunt woman in Iran.

She had already done a number of dangerous scenes in 21 Iranian films when she shot to world fame in 2012 in the most recent James Bond film, “Skyfall”. […]

Gymnastics champion: Mahsa Ahmadi is now 24 years of age, but her career began when she was a young child. As a gymnast, she spent eleven years on the Iranian national team, winning numerous competitions in the process. When she had to leave the national team at the age of 18, she found a new challenge in the group “Stunt 13”. She is also a qualified sports teacher. […]

Woman in a male-dominated world: the stunt scene in Iran is a male-dominated world: “most of the time, women’s roles in Iranian films are pretty safe; nothing happens to them, explains “Stunt 13” boss Arsha Aghdasi. “Slowly, however, things are changing. With her courageous and professional manner, Ahmadi has gradually won the trust of the directors.” […]

Award-winners: in 2013, the international stunt crew of 100 men and 4 women won the American Screen Actors Guild Award for the best stunt group in a feature film. For Ahmadi, the breakneck car chases and furious scenes in “Skyfall” were a “unique experience”.

Source: Qantara.de | High-flyer: Iranian stunt woman Mahsa Ahmadi