Meet shauna galligan: stuntwoman

We had the good fortune of connecting with shauna galligan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi shauna, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I believe risk taking is the first step to the higher phase of possibilities. My friend told me once when I was at the crossroads. Do I stick with my same career where I am safe or do I take a risk by moving to attempt my dream career that would be impossible to most people. He said, ” You have to go somewhere to get somewhere.” You can’t get anywhere with where you are. You have to take that chance. I took the risk, left my life as I new it and became a stuntwoman when my family said that it would be too big of a reach. I have worked on some of the biggest movies in the world and 12 years later I am stunt coordinating designing action for movies. All because I took a chance, I risked everything for that opportunity. I made it happen when opportunity knocked. When that door opens, you better be running through that open door because it may never open again.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a stuntwoman. I have been in the film industry for 14 years. I started off as a set medic on a TV show that was shooting in san diego. I was an athlete growing up. I was a tomboy and lover of all sports. I just didn’t stop moving and wanting to get better at soccer, football, baseball, skateboarding, you name it. I never really grew out of it. When I was 24, I was a EMT and a massage therapist. I knew that wasn’t my path but I had this feeling it was going to get me to where I wanted to be so I followed my gut. I found myself working on a TV show in 2007. I would walk on to the stage with my soccer ball, medic bag and skateboard. Being the one who was at work the longest, I would have about 18-20 hour days. I entertained myself with kicking the ball or skating around. Which, you DON”T do on set, ha! What did I know! The producer came up to me one day and asked,”if you get hurt, who is going to take care of us?” Well, I was doing the right thing at the right time my book because someone then suggested I become a stuntwoman. Someone knew someone, connected us, I moved back to LA (where I am originally from) and with hard work and never giving up, 12 years later I can say I have had one successful, incredible career so far. Over the years, I was faced with incredible challenges. There are two thing that propels you forward through thick and thin: perseverance and mindset. If you can see where you can go where you are at, you don’t lose sight of it and keep that as your focus. When times get tough and your soul has been crushed, you don’t give up because it’s there to help you not hurt you. Once you master that, you can do anything. The power of the mind can get you through anything. You have to believe. You have to trust the process.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When friends and family come to visit me in Fayetteville, we spend a lot of time in the Town of Trilith. With the walkability to restaurants, ice cream, parks and lakes, it is quite a simple, beautiful, unique experience you don’t come across in your everyday life. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
my mom and dad get credit as they supported me during my time of career changes and my entire life as a single mom. So much I couldn’t have done without their support!

Instagram: shaunalynngalligan

Youtube: shauna galligan

Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfM8wrXIrU&t=4s

Image Credits
behind the scenes from Insurgent, line of duty and other movies.