He is rated as one of the leading live show stunt performers in the world today, and now a 30-year-old Port Stephens high-flying adventurer is ready to take on the lucrative Hollywood film business.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jimmy Davies, from Salamander Bay, is enjoying some rest and recreation following a hugely successful two-year contract with Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan, playing the lead role in the live production of the 1995 American post-apocalyptic action film, Waterworld.
"I played the hero character portrayed by Kevin Costner in the movie. It's an acting part involving stunt work on a stand-up jet ski and we were performing in front of thousands of visitors three times a day, four days a week."
A former Tomaree High School student who has always reveled in extreme sports such as motorcross riding and rock climbing, Davies says his Universal Studios experience has given him the confidence to chase his dream job - a career as a Hollywood stuntman in film and television.
"Stunt work is very highly regarded in the film industry, unlike in the old days when it was a bit of a free-for-all and could be quite dangerous due to the antics of some. Performers today must be highly skilled and professional, and safety is paramount," said Davies, a member of the leading name in the stunt industry, Action Horizons.
To win the Waterworld audition, Davies - whose previous stunt work had included a three-year contract in China riding predominantly motorbikes - had to learn from scratch how to ride a stand-up jet ski, which "took many hours of training".
"The 20-minute show is non-stop action on the water ... it features non-stop action with high speed, water spraying, fighting, falling off and climbing back on the jet ski, and all type of madness. It's a lot of fun and a great lifestyle. I consider myself to be very fortunate to getting 'paid to play'."
Having arrived back in Australia in April amid the coronavirus pandemic, Davies was forced into two weeks of isolation in a Sydney hotel before he was allowed to return to his Salamander Bay home. It was an unnerving experience for a man who lives on the adrenaline rush of high octane adventure and outdoor activity.
"I am staying fit and doing a bit of bricklaying work while waiting for the travel restrictions to lift. To work in the film industry you must be at the peak of your fitness both physically and mentally."
As for the dangers involved in stunt work, Davies who has the support of family and friends says focus is the key. "I love what I do, I keep extremely fit and healthy and I take my job in the industry extremely seriously."
