Conversations with Lea Cochet

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lea Cochet.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in the French Alps. I grew up in a very dynamic and sporty family. To give you an idea, my parents’ honeymoon was a bicycle road trip from Vancouver, Canada to San Diego, California. Twenty years later, they decided to bring my brother and I on a similar one. We ended at Universal Studios in LA where I saw the WaterWorld live show. I immediately thought “This is a real job that people do???”. I was able to talk to some of the performers and learned more about the industry. I then watched Kill Bill and discovered Zoe Bell, she is a big part of my inspiration. By then I had made up my mind; this is was I wanted to do. I researched, googled, found videos, watched movies. Picture me in my living room in a small village in the Alps, trying to learn how to stack punches! Around that time, I went on a road trip by myself in the US. Knowing that I was going to stop in LA, I asked stunt woman Andrea Ross (DCs Legends of Tomorrow, The 100, Jupiter’s Legacy) for training recommendations and she told me about JAM (Joining All Movement). I met a lot of the people that I had been following on social media. It was the most inspiring and intimidating experience of my life. A couple of years later, I officially moved to California to pursue my stunt dream.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It certainly has been a bumpy road. I moved to LA in 2020, right before the pandemic. I was studying at UCLA at the time. Most of my stunt trainings were taking place at gyms that shut down. Luckily, I met an amazing group of people and we found other ways to train, online, outside… On the work side, I came to the US with a very basic understanding of the American film industry. COVID definitely reduced the amount of work available but on the bright side, everything slowed down. It allowed me to learn more about this incredible industry and its etiquette. I would say that I came out of it stronger and more prepared. Overall I see these past two years as a fun ride at 6Flags!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Being in stunts requires a lot of different skills, from flipping to tricking, to boxing to falling, no two jobs are ever the same. I love flipping, I spend a lot of time at the gym perfecting all kinds of flips. Most recently I’ve been working on a b-twist and have finally been able to land them consistently. I like to think my attitude sets me apart. I am always down for anything. I genuinely enjoy hitting the ground and (fake) fighting people. I find learning new skills and perfecting them to be one of the most rewarding feelings!

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Make sure this is something you are 100% willing to commit to. If you are not passionate about it, it is going to suck a little. You won’t always get to do the cool stuff and if you want to get somewhere, be ready for long training hours. But if this job is for you, it will all be worth it in the end. As someone told be once: Train where the stunt people train, buckle down for a long road and enjoy the journey!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leacochetstunts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lea_frenchiestunts/

Image Credits
Ryan Abney @ryanabneyphotography Dana Lynn Pleasant @danalynnphoto