Tell about yourself and your background! *
I was born and raised in the French Alps. I grew up in a very dynamic and sporty family; my parents work out almost as much as stunt performers. To give you an idea, their honeymoon trip was a bicycle road trip from Vancouver, Canada to San Diego, California. Training has always been a big part of my life. I trained in a variety of sports such as tennis, figure skating, judo and rock climbing before accidentally stumbling upon gymnastics when I was 9. It was love at first sight. I flipped for about 8 years before focusing on volleyball and later taekwondo.
What inspired you to become a stunt performer?
Remember my parents' honeymoon adventure? Twenty years later, they decided to bring my brother and I on a similar one. We ended at Universal Studios in LA where I saw the WaterWorld live show. I immediately thought "This is a real job that people do???". I was able to talk to some of the performers and learned more about the industry. I watched Kill Bill and discovered Zoe Bell, she is a big part of my inspiration. By then I had made up my mind; this is was I wanted to do. I researched, googled, found videos, watched movies. Picture me in my living room in a small village in the Alps, trying to learn how to stack punches! Around that time, I went on a road trip by myself in the US. Knowing that I was going to stop in LA, I asked stunt woman Andrea Ross (DCs Legends of Tomorrow, The 100, Jupiter's Legacy) for training recommendations and she told me about JAM (Joining All Movement). I met a lot of the people that I had been following on social media, it was the most inspiring and intimidating experience of my life.
What is your greatest skill as a stunt performer, is there a stunt behind it?
Aside from flipping, I am always down for anything. I genuinely enjoy hitting the ground and (fake) fighting people. I find learning new skills and perfecting them to be one of the most rewarding feelings!
What is the best part about being a stunt performer?
The best part about being a stunt performer is that there are an infinite amount of things to learn! Every day is different and I find that there’s always something to work on. The stunt community is amazing too. It's full of great, passionate and inspiring people. I am really proud to be a part of it.
Tell your all-time favorite stunt story!
I am sure a lot of people say that but... Tough question! I would say probably my first dead man. It was my first time working with a bunch of stunt people. We had this whole previz and on the day, the director says "how about we change it up, someone throws a knife and you just take it in the head?". I remember the whole team agreeing to that idea and immediately prepping everything. It was amazing to witness. I put one my harness, ran as fast as I could through branches and bushes, hit the end of the line and there was the floor. I know it doesn't sound that epic but I am really grateful for the team that was there that day, and proud to now call them my friends!
What advice would you give other stunt performers?
Make sure this is something you are 100% willing to commit to. If you are not passionate about it, it is going to suck a little. You won't always get to do the cool stuff and if you want to get somewhere, be ready for long training hours. But if this job is for you, it will all be worth it in the end. As someone told be once: Train where the stunt people train, buckle down for a long road and enjoy the journey!!!
Anything else you'd like to tell the community about?
I am grateful for all of you hard workers and I can't wait to meet those I haven't met yet!
Please share your social media handles and how we can follow you!
IG: @lea_frenchiestuntsWebsite:
https://www.leacochetstunts.com/
Please include any links to stunt reels or videos you'd like to share!
