Where You’ve Seen Lady Deadpool’s Stunt Double Before Deadpool & Wolverine

While Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were the stars of “Deadpool and Wolverine,” some of the smaller roles and cameos actually stole the show. Actors like Wesley Snipes reprised fan-favorite characters like Blade, while Channing Tatum finally got a chance to play Gambit in the MCU.

The finale of the movie introduced a flurry of Deadpool variants that referenced everything from “The Greatest Showman” to Welsh soccer team Wrexham A.F.C. Leading this group was Lady Deadpool, a female version of the anti-hero voiced by Blake Lively, Reynolds’ wife. However, the part was physically portrayed by Australian stunt performer Christiaan “Stanni” Bettridge — who often steps in when actors refuse or can’t perform stunts themselves.

Despite being relatively new to the movie industry, Bettridge has already made a name for herself in Hollywood, and there’s a good chance you’ve seen her work in several films. Let’s explore the life and career of Bettridge, focusing on where you might have seen her before on the big screen.

Although Christiaan Bettridge is now known for her stunt work, her career path was quite diverse before entering the movie industry. In 2013, a modeling agency bio revealed that she worked as a dancer before the age of 22, alongside modeling gigs in Europe and Asia. However, her commitment to modeling remains unclear.

What stands out is that Bettridge was not just an average dancer. She grew up with a ballet background and performed professionally in Australia. Despite not being a naturally skilled dancer as a child, she honed her craft and expanded into other dance styles like cabaret and contemporary.

Bettridge’s skills eventually led her to prestigious jobs worldwide. She performed in a burlesque and cabaret show at the Le Lido musical theater in Paris and also danced in the world-famous Moulin Rouge show. Visitors to these shows in France might have seen her perform on stage.

Christiaan Bettridge’s first credited on-screen role was in the SyFy series “Hunters.” The TV show follows a secretive government organization that tracks and eliminates a race of aliens living among humans. It ran for just one season of 13 episodes and received a universally negative response from critics.

Bettridge acted as a stunt double for the character Regan, played by Britne Oldford, in three episodes in 2016. Regan, a Hunter in disguise, often found herself in compromising situations, providing Bettridge with ample stunt opportunities. This marked a significant introduction to stunt performing for Bettridge, given that Oldford’s character was a main cast member.

Christiaan Bettridge next appeared in the Netflix series “Mako Mermaids.” A spin-off of “H2O: Just Add Water,” the show follows children transforming into mermaids. Bettridge worked under “utility stunts,” suggesting she was involved in general safety and basic stunts rather than doubling for another actor.

While Bettridge’s exact contributions remain unclear, she was part of a 27-person stunt team that included safety divers and swimmers. Unlike many of her colleagues, she is only credited in one episode.

Christiaan Bettridge’s career hit a high note in 2017 when she joined the stunt team for Gal Gadot’s “Wonder Woman.” Operating under the name Christiaan Schodel, she worked alongside over 200 people involved in stunts for the DC Extended Universe movie. Bettridge had dual credits: doubling for both Connie Nielsen (Queen Hippolyta) and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman).

“Wonder Woman” was a commercial and critical triumph, grossing over $800 million at the box office. Set before “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” it follows Amazonian princess Diana as she investigates World War I to thwart her rival Ares.

In an interview with Scholastic, Bettridge shared her love for superheroes and the joy of portraying Wonder Woman. “I was a big fan of Wonder Woman when I was a kid,” she said. “I love that I get to pretend to be someone that I grew up wanting to be.” Her work on “Wonder Woman” earned her a 2018 Screen Actors Guild Award, shared with the entire stunt department.

“Wonder Woman” was not the last time Bettridge doubled for Gal Gadot. She returned for the 2017 “Justice League” and doubled for Gadot again in “Wonder Woman 1984” three years later.

With James Gunn’s takeover of the DC Universe, Gadot’s tenure as Wonder Woman might be ending, but this is unlikely to halt collaboration between the actor and stunt performer. Bettridge doubled for Gadot in Netflix’s “Red Notice” in 2021 and “Heart of Stone” in 2023.

Gadot praised Bettridge on Instagram, posting a behind-the-scenes image and lauding the stunt performer for her contributions. “She’s always there by my side making sure I’m safe and at the same time taking the punches and getting thrown against walls,” Gadot wrote. “She’s a mother, an athlete, and her movements are unlike anything I’ve seen before in a stunt performer.”

One of Christiaan Bettridge’s recent projects was Netflix’s 2023 psychological thriller “Locked In.” The film follows a hospital nurse (Anna Friel) as she helps a patient recover from locked-in syndrome, uncovering the events that led to her condition and dark family secrets.

This project marked Bettridge’s first time doubling for someone other than Gal Gadot since 2017’s “Wonder Woman.” She doubled this time for Famke Janssen, playing Katherine, who is mowed down by her conspirator Robert (Alex Hassell) in a vital flashback scene.