Angelina Jolie Actually Jumps Off Bridge, Eschews Stunt Double

In the trailer for Salt, Angelina Jolie jumps off of a bridge and on to a moving truck — without the use of a stunt double. Would this be news if she were a man?

The movie’s producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, discusses the fact that the part was rewritten once a woman was cast, telling MTV News:

“The hardest thing in switching from a man to a woman was actually all the characters surrounding the main character. It’s not like you felt everyone had to baby the character because she’s a woman. …We simply respond to a female character differently than we respond to a male character.”

Yet di Bonaventura also says: “We all felt that there should be no difference in Salt in terms of the action. Salt is every bit as tough and capable of great harm as a woman as a man.”

Apparently Angelina was up for the challenge. Stunt coordinator Simon Crane tells the LA Times:

“She’s absolutely fearless when it comes to high places… That’s a fantastic asset to have. You can use her confidence with heights to put her in all kinds of dicey situations and know that she’s going to be convincing pulling it off.”

And lest anyone think the mother of six holds back because she has kids, she recently told Entertainment Weekly: “The funny thing about having children is that now I am twice as motivated to do a cool stunt because my kids will like it.” Coincidentally, we like it too.

‘Salt’: Inside Angelina Jolie’s Stunts, Hospital Stay [MTV News]
The Stunts: Angelina Jolie in ‘Salt’ [LA Times]