There’s a very good chance you’ve seen Gemita Samarra’s work in the past. Though, it’s possible you didn’t recognize her immediately.
Through 24: Live Another Day, Kingsman: The Secret Service and this fall’s Spectre, Gemita has lent her talents toward performing some of the most daring stunts seen in the past couple years — but don’t expect her to spend the rest of her career taking one for the team as a living. While the stunt performer has an exceptional career in the midst, the beautiful 22-year-old model has also squeezed in roles in Games of Thrones, The Royals and Fast and Furious 6 during her time in-between the action. This is just the beginning; she has tons of exciting projects set to come to the big and small screens in the near future. And she’s here with us to talk about them more in-depth.
In an exclusive phone interview with TheCelebrityCafe.com's Will Ashton, Gemita talks about working as a stunt double for a Bond film, what’s involved with working on stunts for such a massive film, her upcoming work in Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, her circus-performing parents, and her love of extreme sports. Also, did we mention she owns a wolf? Oh yeah, she owns a wolf. Find out all about the rising star below.
This interview was recorded on November 3. Spectre comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray February 9.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: How are you doing today?
Gemita Samarra: I’m good actually, yeah. Just recovering from last night’s premiere for Spectre in Mexico.
TCC: How was that?
GS: It was amazing. The venue was incredible. They had all the bits and pieces out. It was mind-blowing.
TCC: Awesome. So when you got the call saying that you were going to be in a Bond film, what were some of the thoughts rushing in your head in that moment?
GS: The whole process happened pretty quickly, actually. I was called in to meet with this thing called Spectre, and they had me meet with the stunt coordinator. But they kept talking about my face, so I met with Sam (Mendes). I had to do some different stuff for Sam, and they just kinda told me there-and-then on that day. I didn’t really about it in that moment. I kinda didn’t really think properly until I was filming. I also didn’t know how much work there would be, because they’re always adding bits. So it was a very odd experience, from the beginning. But honestly, it’s this job that every stunt performer wants.
TCC: Definitely. And can you tell me how much you were involved with the shoot? Without getting into spoilers, of course.
GS: Sure. I filmed until probably around July this year, so I was involved for a very long time. And it was really only meant to be the first couple months. Then they kept adding in new stuff, then rescheduling things. But it worked out really well for me. I was the only double for Léa (Seydoux), so I had a lot of work for her.
TCC: Awesome. And what was it like working with Léa?
GS: Pretty good. She’s a really nice girl. She hasn’t really done a lot of action stuff before in the past, so it was quite fun learning that through her. It was nice; it was pretty fun and she did some things. She gave everything a go as well, and I helped her out with the train scenes, all that stuff. And the high fall things with wires. It was a good experience. And I think she actually enjoyed it in the end.
TCC: And what physical preparations are involved when performing stunts for a big blockbuster like this?
GS: Well, you’re briefed in-between jobs with training and all that, so that’s how you get into it in the first place. But some things can change, either with the movie itself or working through the gym or working on a bigger or smaller film as well. But as far as physical preparation, we never really know what we’re doing, really, until the day, and that can make it a lot of fun.
TCC: And what’s the energy like on set for a James Bond film?
GS: It’s pretty good, because you can see the move happening in front of you. Normally, you don’t really know what’s happening, and you can’t really see how it’s all going to turn out. But because all the stunt pieces are real, and all the stunts are very real, it was a completely different atmosphere from any other film that I’ve worked on.
TCC: Did you get to work much with Sam Mendes?
GS: I did, yes. I worked with Sam mainly, apart from some night shoots towards the end of filming. That was a great experience.
TCC: What can you tell me now about Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children?
GS: I did that right after Bond. I was doubling Ella Purnell, who was great. So that was really fun, and Tim (Burton)’s great to work with as well.
TCC: And can you tell me anything about The Infiltrator?
GS: I worked on that for a couple days, and for that one I doubled for Diane Kruger. I think I had a couple weeks off of Bond, towards the beginning of the year. So I took it on in-between Spectre, which was great and fun.
TCC: Awesome. I was curious too, what inspired you to want to get into stunt work?
GS: Well, both my parents were circus performers before I was born. So my childhood was already pretty peculiar and crazy. My brother was also massively into extreme sports, so I did as well. And then I eventually got more into professional jumping and took things internationally. And then I got my first job in the modeling industry at 17. It was for a television series called Bedlam, and that sort of propelled me into acting. Everything just sort of kicked off after that, really.
TCC: And if there was anything in particular that you could do in your career, as far as an all-time goal, what would that be?
GS: Well, Bond was definitely one of them. I’d love to do some kind of Marvel movie at some point. That would probably be my biggest dream. But now I’m moving — well, I’m more throwing around — into acting. I’m really trying to push into acting, and I’m trying to get that spunky action role. I’m trying to get something with stunts.
TCC: And I’ve heard that, in addition to your acting, you’re very involved with animal ethical care, as a producer and a writer.
GS: Yeah!
TCC: I was curious where you were with that right now.
GS: It’s still in the very, very early stages with that at the moment, but I have been trying to finish up a documentary about shark hunting. I was originally writing a documentary about shark hunting, and now I’ve expanded that into a lot more into other animal rights as well. And so I’m still in the process of writing that show. But that’s something I’m massively interested in at the moment.
TCC: And is there anything in particular — especially as a stunt performer — that terrifies or scares you?
GS: I think the biggest thing that scares all of us is getting injured, and not being able to work. When it comes to the job, with the work itself, you tend not to get too injured. It’s more of the training in-between, when you’re trying to push yourself to your limits and whatnot. It’s about avoiding injuries. So I think, for me, it’s about trying not to get injured at all, and to get to work as much as possible.
TCC: Definitely. And are you still able to do extreme sports in-between your schedule at the moment?
GS: It all just depends on what I’m doing. There’s some time in-between filming, but my schedule is fairly unpredictable as well. You never know what you’re going to be doing. Sometimes, you’ll think, “Oh, I’ve got all my stuff down,” and then you’ve got stuff to keep you busy all year. But I’ve already got a job, but I take on other jobs. But I have no idea what’s going to go on. Every day is kind of different.
TCC: And for my final question, I was really curious: How did you end up owning a wolf?
GS: (laughs) How did you end up owning a wolf…. Well, my brother actually does a lot climbing. He does these expositions, and he got to work with pet wolves, but I got really into them. Wolves and sharks: those are my two animals. My wolf, her name is Lupa. When I got her, she was about eight days old. But now she’s about 3 ½.
You can follow Gemita on Twitter and Instagram at @GemitaSamarra. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and The Infiltrator arrive in theaters on December 25 and August 31, respectively.