Biography

Gillian was born in Sheffield, England in 1963, the eldest of three daughters born to doctor parents. She had an amazing childhood, filled with lots of different sports and although her parents were academics, they both believed sport of any kind was essential to a balanced upbringing. Gillian explained that she and her siblings tried many different sports but continued training in high diving, trampolining, swimming and gymnastics throughout their school years. Gillian also explained that she is now the only surviving member of her immediate family.

Gillian went to school in Ackworth, West Yorkshire and then to Carnegie in Leeds; a sports college where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Human Movement Studies. Rather than pursue teaching, Gillian decided she much preferred the performance side of sport and after seeing a documentary on Stunts, realised that was the career for her. Gillian was a state/national trampolinist, swimmer and diver and already had a car and motorbike license.

The United Kingdom version of “It's a Knockout ” was Gillian's next adventure and her team represented Great Britain in the European finals. It was a year long venture and this is where her desire to become a Stunt Performer was born. Gillian was offered a place to train and grade as a Stunt Performer in London; however she decided to travel for a year first and then pursue her Stunt career on her return.

Whilst backpacking and working her way around the world, Gillian was employed at a swimming pool in Sydney, Australia. During a lunch break she was practicing diving off the tower and was approached by a man teaching others to dive off the spring boards. He wanted to know a little more about her. Gillian explained that she was travelling the world but wanted to be Stunt Performer on her return to the United Kingdom. A serendipitous meeting, this man was the late Rangi Nikora, renowned Stunt Coordinator and he offered Gillian a place on his training course.

Gillian performed two years of intensive training with Rangi, one of the hardest things she has ever done but this was to be the greatest introduction to the Film and Television industry. Gillian also met Sotiri Sotiropoulos on the course, her now husband of 34 years.

Asked if she had a memorable Stunt or piece of action, Gillian could not bring it down to one. There have been many over the years she explained. Jumping off a roof top onto a moving train without wires. Jumping off the same moving train into a box rig. Having to jump off Roseville Bridge without any permission and being pushed down a flight of stairs in a wheelchair, to land in a pond at the bottom. The most memorable films were lead double on "Ghostship", as there was such a variety of stunts. The "Matrix" trilogy and going to Africa on "Mad Max: Fury Road."

Jumping off the Roseville Bridge was not the only ‘bridge adventure’ Gillian embarked on. Back in 1989, along with some others in the dark of night, they climbed a prominent Sydney landmark then abseiled to the road below where Sotiri was waiting in his van to whisk them away. A classic adventure of the time, never to be repeated.

Gillian was asked if there was anything else she was proud of aside from her Stunt career. Foremost she is most proud of her two children, also writing a life story called "Obsidian - Life On The Edge" and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro after working on "Mad Max: Fury Road" in Africa with fellow Hall of Fame inductees Raelene Chapman and Avril Wynne.

"I am so honoured and grateful to be considered part of the Stunt Hall of Fame community. Thank you for recognising all our contributions to the Film and Television industry. It was a total shock and I am very grateful. A huge thank you to Spike for his help and support through the process. "


Researched & Written by Spike Cherrie