Hayley Wright Addresses 'Rust' Tragedy, Calls It The Wake-Up Call Hollywood Needed

Stuntwoman and actress Hayley Wright has built a career jumping from one high-stakes set to another.

With credits in "Aquaman," "Birds of Prey," "Wonder Woman," "American Horror Story," and the "Freaky Friday" reboot, Hayley Wright has carved out a space as one of the industry's most versatile doubles.

In a conversation with Anna Osborne, Digital PR Lead at Casino.ca, Hayley Wright opened up about the physical demands of stunt work, how she prepares mentally for dangerous scenes, and what fans often overlook about her profession.

"Each superhero film is really its own universe. It can be overwhelming but also very exciting to step into those worlds," she said. "'Wonder Woman' was one of the first big movies of my career. I walked into that experience extremely grateful, but also with a certain naivety; I had no idea what to expect or how massive these productions could be. It's really special to be part of [an] action that inspires so many people."

She recently doubled both Julia Butters and Chloe Fineman in Disney's "Freakier Friday."

"When I got the call, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this is awesome,'" Wright recalled. "As a stunt performer, you get to a point where the title or specific film is what it is, but there's definitely certain films that are extra exciting to be a part of, it's that 'Wow, I get to be part of something I'm a fan of.'"

Though she's careful not to spoil too much, Wright teased one scene audiences should look forward to.

She said, "Just keep an eye out for the scene where Julia is on one of those electric scooters. It's pretty funny. I had a lot of fun on the day executing it."

When it comes to staying ready for demanding roles, Wright keeps a strict balance between training and recovery.

"I train five to six days a week. Sometimes I have to be quite slim to match the actress, so I'll focus more on cardio, Pilates, and yoga. But sometimes I do like to lift heavy because I feel my strongest when I'm doing those kinds of workouts," she said.

She also credits meditation with helping her mentally prepare.

"I started meditating five years ago… 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes at night," Wright shared. "Honestly, that's been a game-changer for me because it really helps me tap into a stillness and a presence, which is really important for stunts. With the pressures and the energy on set, it's important to be present and focused."

Beyond that, she relies on tools from her life coach, Jesse Correll.

"He's given me tools on how to shift perspective and deal with certain thoughts and doubts that might pop up," Wright shared. "Earlier on, I would just rely on adrenaline and just trust that I knew what I was doing, but now I just have a little bit more of a calm approach."

Wright pointed out that stunt doubles often face unique challenges that audiences are unaware of.

"Sometimes the costumes are very restrictive and uncomfortable, and you're just expected to do everything you do in rehearsal clothes but in these really crazy costumes," she explained. "The toughest thing is the hurry up and wait. You'll be on set all day, and then at the end of the day, you're expected to go from 0 to 120%. That can be quite difficult."

And while she's proud of her work, she acknowledged that compensation doesn't always reflect the risk.

"We're very grateful that we get paid to do what we love, but I think there's still room for growth in how stunts are compensated, especially for lead stunt doubles," Wright said. "Sometimes the stunt double is used as much as the actor, and you just can't compare what we get paid compared to the actors."

After the tragic "Rust" shooting, Wright said productions have noticeably tightened safety protocols.

"I think most productions now are using airsoft and rubber replicas, paired with adding digital muzzle flashes in post, so it looks real enough but takes away that danger," the stunt double explained. "That's definitely more common now, which I think is necessary."

She stressed that clear communication between coordinators, performers, and safety supervisors is essential.

"It's important to have enough time to rehearse every stunt properly," Wright noted. "That's huge. Communication is key, to have an inviting and safe space to express any concerns."

For Wright, injuries have been part of the journey.

In Thailand, she broke her fibula and tore ligaments after a kitchen counter stunt went wrong. "I just didn't think that I would get injured in that specific moment," she said. "Did I ever think I was about to snap my ankle? No… It was literally the first shot of the night. That's the thing with stunts—it can happen when you least expect it."

Still, the adrenaline can be just as rewarding as it is risky. Reflecting on a window-jump for "Station 19," she recalled, "I had so much adrenaline on that job. It taught me that adrenaline is your friend if you allow it to be. It almost brings you into a flow state. After the stunt, the whole crew were giving us a round of applause. It was a good feeling."

Ultimately, Wright believes her work has reshaped her view of what it means to be a hero.

She said, "It's been a little reminder that heroes are often in the shadows. It's not really about being the centre of attention, but more so having courage, resilience, and heart, and showing up consistently. That goes for on-screen and off-screen heroes—the unsung heroes who keep showing up anyway."