Kiwi stunt woman Zoe Bell on coming out of retirement for Taika Waititi's 'Thor'

November 9, 2017

Bell said there was absolutely no reason not to do it after she retired from being a stunt double eight years ago.

Kiwi stunt woman and actress Zoe Bell has revealed why she took on a role in the latest Marvel blockbuster Thor: Ragnarok, stating "there was absolutely no reason" not to come out of retirement and star in the film. 

Bell is the stunt double for Cate Blanchett in the movie, who plays Hela, The Goddess of Death. 

The move has thundered to one of the year's best box-office debuts, opening with an estimated NZD$175 million in theatres in the US and $218 internationally. 

The robust debut for the third Thor movie was a welcome shot in the arm for Hollywood and theatre owners who have just suffered through a terrible October at the box office.  

The actress told TVNZ's Breakfast programme this morning she returned to stunt work for the movie to be apart of a movie which involved people from New Zealand and her Xena the Warrior Princess days. 

"It had been a long time since I had been a stunt double," she said.

"I had kind of retired effectively eight years ago but then the job came up and obviously it's Taika who have known for years and just want to be supportive in any way I can and Ben Cook, who was the second unit directing who's like a brother of mine from Xena day ....there was absolutely no reason to not to do it."

"It wasn't even a career choice for me, it was like a life choice."

Speaking about the success of the film, Bell said "it's just been incredible". 

"I'm so proud for everyone and excited for them."

Thor: Ragnarok also bucked the trend of diminishing returns for sequels. The 2011 Thor debuted with $95 million; 2013's Thor: The Dark World opened with $124 million.

The big opening cements the unlikely breakthrough of New Zealand director Taika Waititi, who shepherded the $261 million production to Marvel's best reviews since 2008's Iron Man.  

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