Biography

Raelene Chapman has been a professional stunt performer for over twenty-five years and has experienced numerous “pinch me moments” throughout her career. She recalled one memorable instance while filming a scene in the Aegean Sea in Mykonos, Greece, where she thought, “I can’t believe I’m being paid to do this!”

Raelene was the first-born child to Laurie and Janice Chapman of Geelong, Victoria and is the older sister to Dale and Mathew. Her father had a tree lopping business and this is probably where her love for and ability to work at heights came from.

Raelene’s brother Dale was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was just 23 and sadly passed away 5 years later. A sadness Raelene described as unbearable. Raelene struggled to focus on training and work for quite some years afterwards. Her thoughts were only for her family.

Raelene excelled at dance, gymnastics and springboard diving and her dear mum drove her all over the Victoria as she competed in state level gymnastics and diving.

Schooling was at "Sacred Heart College" in Geelong. Afterwards she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Performance Studies at university. Raelene considered a career as a dance teacher and started a Diploma of Education, however she soon decided that was not to be her career path.

Shortly after and on a whim, Raelene moved to Cairns in far north Queensland; staying there twice as long as she initially envisaged before moving south to the Gold Coast.

While working at a restaurant, a colleague asked Raelene a philosophical question:

"What do you want to do with your life?"

Raelene had not thought about it much and replied, "I really have no idea what I’d like to do, but I think I’d like to be a Stunt Performer." Coincidentally, her colleague knew someone who could help her pursue that dream. In no time at all, Raelene found herself enrolled in a training course with the Australian Stunt Academy.

There she trained with stunt alumni such as Darko Tuskan (HOF), Mick Van Moorsal and Chris Anderson (HOF). After a session of high fall training, Chris Anderson asked Raelene if she would like to continue training with him at “New Generation Stunts”?

Working at heights and doing high falls was not the only avenue for Raelene and she soon became quite experienced in full body burns or “torches” as they are known. A stunt which relies heavily on the safety team and equipment.

In the script of one film Raelene worked on, there was a dream sequence in which a naked lady was galloping her horse across a field. Raelene agreed to perform the sequence; what could possibly go wrong? We are out in a field and well away from the general public. Oh wait! Change of plans; we now want to film the scene in Centennial Park, Sydney said the production. True to her word, Raelene galloped that horse, bareback I might add, across Centennial Park, her beautiful hair flowing out the back with it hard to tell where Raelene’s hair ended and the horse's tail started. Cut. Thank you Raelene! Next shot. Such is the life of a Stunt Performer.

In 2016 Raelene was the recipient of a Screen Actors Guild Stunt Award. It was an ensemble award for “Mad Max Fury Road”.

Scott McLean:

In the late 1990’s Raelene and Stunt Performer Scott McLean were partners. A brilliant, talented, hardworking, power couple who worked very well together.

In 2010 Scott suffered a horrific brain injury from an accident on a film set in Asia. Raelene immediately became the lioness and Scott; the former lion became her cub. Never allow yourself to get between a lioness and her cub. Much has been written and said about this period and it is of no use to rehash that here. However, without Raelene’s relentless love, care and tenacity when dealing with Scott's medical issues, rehabilitation and the legal implications of the incident; Scott would not have survived nor secured his future. Pure and simple Raelene saved Scott's life. This of course was aided by Scott’s fitness, fight and desire to live.

As legacy and from these personal circumstances, Raelene is now a strong advocate for brain injury care.

Raelene currently considers herself semi-retired and takes on occasional work opportunities. Additionally, she is a passionate traveller, exploring far-off places that many of us dream about. At home, Raelene enjoys spending time with her family, caring for her garden and taking care of her dogs.

It is a great pleasure to induct Raelene Chapman into The Australian Film and Television Stunt Performers Hall of Fame.


Researched & Written by Spike Cherrie