Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Dechelle.
Caitlin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Miami FL and currently live in Los Angeles CA. At age six, I began martial arts training and started competing at age nine. I enjoyed the excitement of competition and continuously worked to perfect my skills. I joined the Paul Mitchell karate team and went on to earn 94 World Titles. Competing provided me a wonderful opportunity to travel the world. Retiring from the competition circuit at 23, I then went on to pursue my dreams of being an actress, along the way putting my martial arts skills to work doing stunts. I am a Garden of Life brand ambassador and am also sponsored by Paul Mitchell Hair Care.
Jackie Chan saw me on ESPN’s US Open broadcast. He quickly summoned his team to have me join him in filming Chinese Zodiac. I had a co-starring role and did my own stunts as well. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship with Jackie.
My work includes Wonder Woman, Teen Wolf, Fast and Furious 7, Supah Ninjas, Bones, Agents of Shield, John Carter, Percy Jackson – Sea of Monsters, Ray Donovan, The Thundermans, Castle, How I Met Your Mother, Pretty Little Liars, Guardians of the Galaxy, Asura, Midnight Texas, Altered Carbon & The Good Place.
My short film “The Raid 2: Betrayal Hammer Girl Fight” quickly went viral. I also played The Geneticist on MTV’s Teen Wolf Season 5. I was the lead stunt double for Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman.
I enjoy going to the gym, hiking, playing arcade games or just hanging out watching movies and sports events. I’m am proudly vegan!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Nothing in the entertainment industry comes without great sacrifice. One sacrifice is definitely friendships and relationships. On a moment’s notice, I can be gone for a week or for a year. When the opportunity presents itself, I have to make the decision – is this job what I want to be doing at this point in my life and once that decision is made, I have to be totally committed to it. Often times, I am working out of the country and almost always I am working away from home. So home life seems to stand still in my absence. Another sacrifice, as any athlete knows, is the continuous need to maintain a strong, healthy physique which is difficult to balance with work and travel and, oh ya, those friendships and relationships. Most professional athletes have an offseason allowing for rest and recovery. Movies are quite often filmed year round and there is no offseason. Having minimal downtime makes it more difficult to recover physically following stunt work. Never a smooth road, but a rewarding road, nonetheless. It’s what I love to do. When you love what you’re doing, the bumps don’t seem so bumpy.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m an Actress/stunt woman/World Champion martial artist.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as “exceeding expectations” whether acting in a role or stunt doubling.
For example, we created, rehearsed and perfected the fight scene against the Germans in Wonder Woman for over two months. When I sat in the theatre and I saw the crowd’s reaction to that scene, I truly felt that we had accomplished something worthwhile and amazing.
For me, success will not only measured by the physical performance I give, but also through my professionalism, attitude, work ethic, and respectfulness. Growing up as a martial artist, I learned about honor and respect and doing the right thing and I have carried those values on into my professional career, never taking anything for granted and always being appreciative of the physical gifts I have been blessed with.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.caitlindechelle.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlindechelle/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaitlinDechelle/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/caitlindechelle
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/thecaitlindechelle
Image Credit:
Tamar Martinez Photography, Lewis Tan Photography, Geo Leon Photography, After Hxxrs Photography
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