Sci-Fi Expo Interview: Stuntwoman Alina Andrei (Thor, Charmed, Prison Break, Criminal Minds, Mad Maxine) |

Check out this weekend’s Sci-Fi Expo if you’re in the Dallas area. The show features some great actors and comic book creators. This past week before the con, I talked with one of its guests: stuntwoman, actress, and Omega 1 comic star Alina Andrei.

AFC: Let’s start with the obvious, the one you probably get asked all the time but readers would love to know: How did you get into stunt work?
Alina: My background in swordfighting, weapons, and martial arts, especially in muay thai, got me into stunts at the time. Was an easy transition since was already skilled in weapons and fighting.
AFC: You told me you’ve been doing swordfighting this week. What project’s that for?
Alina: It was for a how-to photography video and I was playing a pirate in the background behaving badly and beating up other pirates naturally. {laughs} I was a pedestrian in the background running for my life from the evil robots. Am more like a blur. Lots of stunt acting and looking scared.
AFC: On a movie like Transformers, where would viewers look to spot you in the film?
Alina: Was in a shot where I did a fall on the ground in front of some kids but it got cut out.
AFC: Which projects have been the most fun to work on?
Alina: Definitely motion capture jobs like on the Spider-Man video games and other games as well, where I get to do lots of stunt acting. Did a fun bit on Desperate Housewives too..and doubling Milla Jovovich on The Perfect Getaway. Did a fun fight for her. And anytime where I get to play with weapons and perform martial arts like my first stunt job on Charmed playing a Valkyrie.
AFC: What’s the hardest part of the job?
Alina: Hitting the ground or anything hard and getting semi hurt. The bruises and pain are not so much fun and the days after recovering. See lots of the chiropractor too. {laughs}
AFC: Which stunt job has been the most dangerous?
Alina: On Prison Break where I had to jump out of a semi truck 4x. And jumping out of the way of a speeding bus with a crash of cars behind me. One shot only.
AFC: Do you ever have that moment right before you perform a stunt where you go, “What the hell am I doing?”
Alina: Oh, yes! 90% of the time.
AFC: How frequently do you get injured on the job?
Alina: Rarely. Mostly small cuts and bruises of every variety. Try to pick my crazy stunts wisely so I can live and walk another day.
AFC: You do other acting as well, right?
Alina: Yes, acting of every kind, comedy and dramatic acting as well. TV, film, commercial, and for video games called motion capture. Have my own webseries called Mad Maxine you can check out too. Lots of stunt acting in that. And it’s hilarious. Physical comedy is my forte I would say.
AFC: Where can people find you on the Internet?
Alina: On You Tube! And on imdb.com and iStunt.com….and the Omega 1 comics and motion comic on the Apple Network and now on iBook as well.