Keri Russell’s ‘Horrifying’ Tumble on The Diplomat Was Shot Without a Stunt Double, EP Confirms — WATCH
Midway through Episode 6 of The Diplomat, Keri Russell‘s titular emissary Kate Wyler takes a nasty spill down a stairwell as David Gyasi’s Austin Dennison understandably looks on in horror. Viewers of the Netflix drama were no doubt similarly distressed considering the sequence was shot without any well-timed cutaways — and with Russell in full view the entire time (see for yourself above).
Series creator/EP/showrunner Debora Cahn tells TVLine that Russell “wanted to do the stunt” herself, adding, “We had a really great stunt coordinator there and they taught her how to do the move, and she did it beautifully. And I’m delighted and relieved to say she didn’t hurt herself.”
But while Cahn concedes that the tumble appears “horrifying” on screen, she notes, “It’s one of those stunt tricks where it looks really dangerous, but was controllable.
“Also, Keri is a dancer,” Cahn adds, “She knows how to handle physical stuff. But we were definitely prepared to cut away. And we were prepared to use a stunt double. There was a stunt double in a very convincing wig standing by [just in case].”
This wasn’t the first time Russell’s stand-in took a knee. A hilariously frenzied (yet nonetheless violent) outdoor brawl between her and Diplomat hubby Rufus Sewell in Episode 3 was performed entirely by the actors themselves.
“They were game,” Cahn marvels of her leads. “Our stunt choreographer gave them a lot of tips on how to make sure they weren’t hurting each other. And they just went for it.”
(see for yourself above)
I’d love to…but…
Same – although I have watched the show.
I absolutely loved the brawl.
The brawl was great.. and the punch she gave him.. while the bodyguards are just chillin enjoying the show.
Is this like the Emperer’s New Clothes?
Keri’s Great Fall?
Cmon. She slipped on stairs. I’ve done the same damn thing and I didn’t need training from a stunt coordinator. Give me break.
Thank you I was going to say the same thing.
You’ve clearly never injured yourself on accident, then. It’s easy to sprain an ankle, strain a muscle, get an actual fracture, in a split second when you fall the wrong way. I’ve taken a couple tumbles over the years and been just fine. But, I’ve also had a couple sprains as well. And a sprain can lead to other issues, such as strained muscles, plantar fasciitis, etc. Accidents do happen, you know. Trying to avoid an injury while purposefully falling seems like common sense to me.
Regardless, this is a TV show, and she’s there to do a job. Imagine if she tried it and sprained her ankle or worse. The production team has the responsibility to make sure it’s choreographed and that she is safe – no matter how big or small the ‘stunt’.
It was a nothing burger stunt. A slip, landing on her butt. Big deal.
I slipped down the stairs and hurt my tailbone. Dr said it would take 2-3 years to heal. Just starting to feel normal again after 3 years. So don’t be dismissive about falls.
Good for her, I hope those injuries don’t catch up with her later. iirc Tricia Helfer underwent a number of surgeries including disc replacements due to doing her own stunts.