BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Staff Writer
One of the newest releases on Amazon Prime Video features Clarkston resident Sara Holden as the double for Rachel Brosnahan in “I’m Your Woman.”
Holden not only doubles for actresses in television shows and movies but is also a stunt performer. Her stunts include everything from basic fights and falls to wire work, car stunts, stair falls, water work and fire stunts.
Holden got into stunts about 11 years ago while she was living in Hollywood pursuing an acting career. She met a couple of stunt performers on a film she was working on.

“After talking to them, I realized stunt work was a perfect way for me to get into the door of the film business,” she said. “I’ve been athletic my whole life having been involved with gymnastics, softball, competitive cheerleading and college rugby. All that, combined with my acting background made me much more marketable to stunt coordinators.”
She trained at a stunt school in Los Angeles for almost two years. Then, her first stunt job was doubling for Pamela Anderson.
Holden shared what being a stunt performer entails.
“First and foremost, a good stunt performer knows how to take direction and listen,” she said. “Things change so much on set, so knowing how to adjust your action is so important. Obviously, training is something you have to keep up on as well. Not only staying in shape physically, but brushing up on your skills so you don’t get too rusty. As they say – you don’t use it, you lose it.”

Every time she gets a call to work she gets excited.
“I turn into a giddy school girl,” Holden shared. “I mean, I get to play make believe on a film set. Whether I’m playing a super hero, getting chased by a bad guy, falling down the stairs in a wedding dress or getting beat up, it’s just so much fun. It doesn’t seem like work to me even though that’s my job. Not to mention, I’m surrounded by some of the most creative people in the business. It’s a true honor to be part of it all.”
Holden added as her two children get older they begin to understand what their mom does for work.
“Honestly, up until a year ago, I don’t even think they knew or cared,” she shared. “They were aware that mommy flew to LA to wear and wig and ‘exercise.’ Now that they are a bit older, they like to point out all the stunts in movies we watch. They also like seeing my name in the credits.”
Holden is currently working on her first car flip. She explained in the stunt world the majority of car flips, which are called piperamps, tend to go to stuntmen.
“There are only a handful of stuntwomen who do them, and I’d like to be a part of that group,” Holden said. “It’s difficult to book the first one, so I decided to create my own opportunity rather than wait for one that may never come. This way, the first one is under my belt and hopefully that will prove I’m capable of performing more in the future.”
The location the car flip is still being worked out but filming it in Clarkston is her top choice.
“Filming this little passion project in the town that I live would be very special,” Holden said. “Plus, I already bought the piperamp and it’s sitting in my backyard. If there’s anyone reading this interested in offering a location, please contact me.”
She is not only hoping to find a good locations but also getting a possible sponsorship to help with some of the gear needed for the stunt.
A full list of Holden’s credits is located on IMDB.com. Some highlights include: double for Kristen Bell on “Veronica Mars,” double for Andrea Barber on “Fuller House,” double for Ashley Tisdale on “Sons of Anarchy,” double for Emme Rylan on “General Hospital,” double for Tracy Spiridakos on “Chicago PD,” double for Diane Lane on “Man of Steel,” double for Michelle Williams on “Oz the Great and Powerful.” A few of her stunt actor credits include “Castle,” “Scandal,” and “Chicago Fire.”
For more information, contact Holden at sara@saraholden.com and follow her on Instagram @saraholdenstunts.