Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Julia Maggio

Julia Maggio has emerged as one of the leading stunt performers in the industry. The Emmy-nominated talent has brought the action in projects including Cobra Kai, Legacies, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Watchmen—just to name a few.

Pop Culturalist spoke with Julia about her career, the unexpected nature of stunt work, and common misconceptions about her profession.

PC: How did you discover your passion for stunt performing and content creation?
Julia: I’d always done gymnastics and cheerleading my entire life. But more importantly, I’m a huge nerd. I’m a fan of everything from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings to Star Wars to anime. I get very obsessive about that kind of content. I’ve always been obsessed with the behind-the-scenes and how they make all this stuff. I really wanted to be part of it ever since I realized that there were stunt performers. I watched a few movies and saw them performing behind the scenes and realized that it was an amazing job and right up my alley.

PC: You were working a corporate job before you got into stunt performing full-time. How scary was that transition/decision?
Julia: It was extremely terrifying, honestly, because I was at my corporate job. As I said, I cheerled my whole life and was always on multiple teams. I had injured my ankle years before and never really gave it the care it needed, and I ended up having surgery. So, I was at my first corporate internship in a full blazer—it was like something out of Mad Men—and I was in my cubicle with my crutches and hated it. I had a huge realization moment that I was miserable and that this was a glimpse into the future. I would be doing this for thirty years in hopes of getting a promotion. I didn’t want that for myself. I loved performing. I missed cheerleading, and I wanted something more than that. It was a huge decision, and it was very out of left field. My family was a little bit confused, but I decided to move to New York City and start performing and figuring out where in the film and performance industry I fit in.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Julia: At this point in my life, I would say my husband. He’s a stunt performer as well. We met while working in the film industry together. He’s been the best support system, helping me figure out the stunt world, and now we’re trying to figure out producing and directing together.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Julia: Definitely. One of my favorite projects that I’ve worked on is Cobra Kai, which is what I’m nominated for. That show felt so perfect for me because I absolutely love doing fight scenes. I love doing weapon work. When Cobra Kai came up, it was the perfect job for me.

I would also say my other lead stunt doubling show, which is Legacies on the CW. I love that job because I will be fighting zombies in the woods one moment and attacking werewolves the next. It always keeps me on my toes. It has really helped me excel in my stunt career and given me so many opportunities to learn and get better.

PC: You’ve been a part of some of the biggest projects in film and television. Do you ever get nervous performing any of these stunts? How are you able to calm those nerves?
Julia: Of course. It’s so funny when people think that performers are fearless. That’s not the case at all. We get nervous all the time. But the thing is that we’re trained professionals. I know how to hit the ground twenty times. When the director says, “Hey, do you have another one in ya?” I always say yes because I’ve trained and I know how to fall correctly. I know how to ride wires correctly, do car hits, and get set on fire. For the times that I’m nervous though, I always go back to my support system or talk to other people that have been mentors to me in the stunt industry. I’ll call up some of my friends and be like, “What do you think of this stunt? How can I perform this as safely as possible?” But I think the most important thing is always having a good supportive stunt team. I have amazing bosses. If I’m doing a stunt involving wires that day, I have a whole rigging team. I trust them with my life. If they say that a stunt is safe, then I trust them and they trust me to perform it.

PC: What’s the most challenging thing about stunt work?
Julia: It’s setting boundaries for yourself. Just because you’re a stunt perform doesn’t mean you have to do every stunt. If you realize that stunt driving isn’t your thing or getting set on fire isn’t your thing, it doesn’t mean you have to do it when someone calls you for it. That’s been pretty difficult because all of us want to be yes-people. But in the end, it comes down to what you’re comfortable with and what you’re passionate about. Because there are other stunt performers out there who can do the stuff that I feel uncomfortable doing and excel at it.

To keep up with Julia, follow her on Instagram.

Photo Credit: Fernando Decillis