11 DC Stars Who Did Their Own Stunts (and Some Got Hurt Doing It)

11 DC Stars Who Did Their Own Stunts (and Some Got Hurt Doing It)

Hollywood superheroes fly through the air, crash through buildings, and battle villains in epic fights. But did you know that many DC stars actually perform these dangerous stunts themselves? These actors train hard, take real risks, and sometimes end up with serious injuries—all to make their superhero characters feel authentic and exciting on screen.

1. Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa takes his role as the King of Atlantis seriously, refusing to let stunt doubles handle most of the action. While filming the Aquaman sequel, he pushed his body to extreme limits.

The physical toll was brutal. Momoa suffered eye injuries that affected his vision, developed a painful hernia, and even broke several ribs during intense underwater sequences.

Despite these setbacks, he kept going. His commitment to doing his own stunts has become a signature part of how he brings Aquaman to life, making every punch, swim, and battle feel genuinely powerful and real on screen.

2. Christian Bale

When Christian Bale became Batman, he insisted on doing as many stunts as director Christopher Nolan would allow. His dedication meant performing dangerous rooftop jumps, intense combat sequences, and physically demanding chase scenes.

The price of authenticity was high. Bale suffered significant back injuries during filming that caused him pain throughout production.

Yet he never complained or backed down. His willingness to endure physical strain helped create one of cinema’s most realistic and grounded superhero portrayals, showing audiences a Batman who felt genuinely human, vulnerable, and heroically determined despite the constant physical punishment his body endured.

3. Halle Berry

Halle Berry transformed herself into a fierce, agile Catwoman by performing most of her own fight choreography and chase sequences. She trained extensively in martial arts and gymnastics to capture the character’s feline grace and deadly precision.

The work took a physical toll. Berry suffered multiple on-set injuries including bruises, sprains, and muscle strains during the film’s demanding action sequences.

She never let injuries slow her down. Berry insisted on continuing to do her own stunts because she believed that her personal involvement was essential to creating Catwoman’s fluid, realistic fighting style and making the character’s movements look genuinely dangerous and captivating on screen.

4. David Corenswet

The new Man of Steel is proving he has what it takes to wear the iconic cape. David Corenswet reportedly tackled nearly every stunt himself while filming the upcoming Superman movie.

Training for Superman required incredible physical preparation. Corenswet worked with specialized trainers to build the strength and endurance needed for wire work, high-altitude sequences, and complex fight choreography.

His hands-on approach shows deep respect for the character. By performing his own stunts, Corenswet aimed to capture Superman’s authentic power and grace, ensuring audiences see a hero who truly embodies the physical perfection and determination that define the Last Son of Krypton.

5. Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton surprised everyone when he was cast as Batman, and he proved the doubters wrong by fully committing to the role physically. He insisted on performing his own fight choreography and action scenes to keep Batman’s movements authentic.

Keaton wanted complete control over how Batman moved. He believed that only by doing the stunts himself could he maintain the character’s mysterious, threatening presence throughout every scene.

His approach worked brilliantly. Decades later, when he returned as Batman in The Flash, Keaton still preferred handling his own physical work, showing that his dedication to authentic superhero action never faded with age or time.

6. Ezra Miller

Speed is everything when you play The Flash, and Ezra Miller took that challenge seriously. Miller chose to handle nearly every stunt personally, undergoing months of specialized training to prepare for the role’s extreme physical demands.

The preparation was intense and specific. Miller trained for high-speed running sequences, mastered complex wire work for flying scenes, and learned intricate combat choreography to embody the superhero’s lightning-fast agility.

This personal commitment paid off beautifully. By performing the stunts themselves, Miller brought an authentic energy and fluidity to Barry Allen’s super-speed movements, making The Flash’s incredible velocity and acrobatic fighting style feel genuinely thrilling and believable throughout the entire film.

7. Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne committed fully to bringing the mystical villain Enchantress to life, even though the role demanded intense physical work. She performed her own stunts despite the character’s heavy, elaborate costume that made movement difficult.

The production was grueling and exhausting. Delevingne ended up covered in bruises and battled constant fatigue from the film’s demanding action sequences and long shooting days.

Her dedication showed in every scene. By refusing to use doubles, Delevingne ensured that Enchantress’s supernatural movements and eerie physicality remained consistent and believable, adding an authentic layer of otherworldly menace to one of Suicide Squad’s most visually striking and memorably creepy characters.

8. Burt Ward

Before modern safety standards, Burt Ward performed incredibly dangerous stunts week after week for the campy 1960s Batman series. His Robin mask made it nearly impossible to use stunt doubles, so Ward did the work himself.

The consequences were serious and frequent. Ward injured himself so often that he made multiple emergency room visits during production, suffering everything from sprains to more severe injuries.

Television schedules were unforgiving back then. Despite the constant pain and medical attention, Ward kept showing up, kept performing, and kept delivering the acrobatic action that made Robin such an exciting character for millions of young viewers watching at home every week.

9. Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot’s background in the Israeli military gave her a foundation, but playing Wonder Woman required next-level physical commitment. She performed the majority of her own stunts in Wonder Woman 1984, including complex fight choreography and spectacular aerial sequences.

Her body paid the price for authenticity. Gadot developed spine strain and experienced severe fatigue during the demanding filming schedule that pushed her physical limits daily.

Despite the pain, she persevered. Gadot believed that performing her own stunts was essential to capturing Wonder Woman’s warrior spirit and grace, ensuring that audiences saw a genuine Amazon princess whose strength, courage, and physical prowess felt completely real and inspiring on screen.

10. Val Kilmer

Playing Batman in 1995 meant wearing one of the heaviest, most restrictive costumes in superhero history. Val Kilmer refused to let the uncomfortable suit stop him from performing his own action sequences.

The Batsuit was a nightmare to work in. It limited his movement, made breathing difficult, and turned every kick and punch into a physical challenge that required extra effort and precision.

Kilmer pushed through anyway. He executed complex combat choreography and athletic moves himself, determined to make Batman’s fighting style look powerful and believable even while trapped inside layers of rubber and armor that weighed him down with every move.

11. Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie brought Harley Quinn’s chaotic energy to life by performing her own dangerous stunts across multiple films. She trained in gymnastics, martial arts, and weapons handling to capture the character’s unpredictable fighting style.

Harley’s acrobatic combat required serious athletic ability. Robbie spent months preparing her body for flips, kicks, and baseball bat swings that looked effortlessly wild but demanded precise control and timing.

Her commitment made Harley unforgettable. By doing her own action work, Robbie ensured that every fight scene captured Harley’s signature blend of playful insanity and deadly competence, creating one of DC’s most beloved and physically impressive character portrayals in modern superhero cinema.