For some of the stunts in the Jurassic World franchise, the hardest part is looking convincingly terrified of animatronic or non-existent dinosaurs. And also running in high heels.
But when kids are involved, even something as simple as running or standing at the edge of a cliff can be considered a stunt that requires a double. So when you watch Ty Simpkins’ Gray jump from the top of a waterfall pursued by the Indominus Rex, you can be pretty sure that the person making that leap was actually his fully adult stunt double Kara Petersen.
You’ve probably seen Petersen before (not that you’d know, of course.) At only 4’11” she often doubles for kids and teens, including Dove Cameron in Disney Channel show Liv and Maddie, Chelsey Valentine in American Horror Story, Hayley McFarland in Sons of Anarchy, and Sean Giambrone in The Goldbergs.
She does get to act her age sometimes, doubling for actors including Drew Barrymore in The Santa Clarita Diet and America Ferrera in Superstore. She’s also performed stunts in NCIS, Glee, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hawaii Five-0 and The Hunger Games (which was coordinated by Chad Stahelski.)
Written by: Looper