Precision, Power, and Presence: The Work of Nicole Callender

Nicole Callender is the kind of film and television professional you want when a scene needs risk — and realism. Whether she’s crashing a car, doubling an A-list actress, or guiding actors through vulnerable material as an intimacy coordinator, Nicole shows up with intention, preparation, and presence.

A longtime member of the Stuntwomen’s Association of Motion Pictures, Nicole’s credits cover high-stakes action and human-centered storytelling. Her work as a stunt double spans more than two decades, with screen time in everything from The Avengers to Spider-Man: Homecoming, from  The Adjustment Bureau, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, to Premium Rush. She’s also taken hits, engaged in stunt riots, and jumped into fights in I Am Legend, Zombieland, and American Gangster.

You’ll see her face in network dramas and prestige streaming shows. She’s fought her way through Orange Is the New Black — doubling for characters like Pidge (Miriam Morale) and performing multiple fights sequences — and brought raw energy to Luke Cage, Law & Order: SVU, and The Leftovers. She’s not only a reliable physical performer — she’s also earned trust from directors who need sensitivity and strength on the same day.

Since 2018, Nicole has also worked as an intimacy coordinator, helping cast and crew navigate emotionally charged or physically exposed scenes with care. It’s a role that pairs naturally with her years as a stuntwoman: protecting performers, communicating clearly, and putting story and safety side by side.

She trained as an actor herself — earning an MFA from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music — which might explain her ability to switch seamlessly between performer, coordinator, and collaborator. On set, she’s known for her ability to read the room, reset the tone, or simply be the calm between takes.

She’s doubled Meagan Good, Raven-Symoné, Regina King, and countless others — usually stepping in with little fanfare, just a harness, a call time, and a focus on execution. From action scenes in Mr. Robot, to car crashes in Blindspot, to combat choreography in Gotham, her range spans genre, tone, and network.

And outside the chaos? Nicole’s A yogi. A working actor. A storyteller. “She’ll kindly pretend to kick your naked ass,” as she puts it — a line that says everything about how she brings humor, humility, and clarity to tough scenes.

With an ever-growing list of credits on both coasts, Nicole Callender remains a vital voice in the world of behind-the-scenes stunts and story-first filmmaking.