Growing up in Clonakilty, Avril Murphy probably never imagined she’d one day be throwing herself around a film set in place of Jessica Chastain or Hugh Grant. But that’s exactly where life took her, and she’s built a serious career doing it.
Murphy is a professional stunt performer and body double, one of a small number of Irish women working at the sharp end of Hollywood productions. She’s the person directors call when the script demands something dangerous, physically demanding, or just too risky for the lead actor to attempt themselves.
It’s a job most people know almost nothing about. Stunt performers rarely get the recognition their work deserves, often hidden behind wigs, camera angles, and careful editing so audiences never notice the switch. Murphy has become skilled at disappearing into a role, matching the physicality and movement of the actor she’s doubling so seamlessly that viewers have no idea someone else is on screen.
Her path into the industry wasn’t a straight line. Like many stunt performers, Murphy came through a background in physical disciplines, building the kind of body awareness and control that the job demands. Stunt work requires a mix of athleticism, quick learning, and the ability to perform under pressure while keeping safety front of mind. It’s far more technical than the movies make it look.
Working alongside big names like Chastain and Grant puts Murphy in rooms that most people only dream about. But she’s spoken about how the job keeps you grounded. When you’re on set, the focus is on the work, hitting marks, making the shot look right, and getting through the day safely. There’s not much time for star-struck moments.
The film and television industry has grown significantly in Ireland over the past decade, with major international productions regularly choosing Irish locations and crews. That growth has created more opportunities for Irish talent both in front of and behind the camera, and stunt departments have benefited from that expansion too.
Murphy represents a side of that industry that rarely makes headlines despite being essential to some of the most memorable scenes audiences watch. Action sequences, falls, fights, car work, anything that carries real physical risk typically involves stunt professionals who have trained specifically for those moments.
For someone from a small town in West Cork, carving out that kind of niche in a competitive global industry is no small achievement. The stunt world is tight-knit and reputation driven. You get hired because people trust your skills and know you can deliver on the day without putting yourself or others at risk.
Murphy has managed to build exactly that kind of reputation, working consistently on productions that reach audiences worldwide while her name stays largely unknown to the people watching. That anonymity is part of the job, but it also means the craft itself often goes unappreciated.
The next time you watch a tense action scene or a convincing physical performance from a major star, there’s a decent chance someone like Avril Murphy is the one actually doing it, a woman from Clonakilty who turned an unlikely career path into something genuinely impressive.