Alicia Vela-Bailey
Alicia Vela-Bailey | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 8, 1982 California, United States |
| Occupations | Stunt performer, stunt double, actress, dancer, choreographer |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Spouse | Matt Mullins |
Alicia Frances Vela-Bailey (born July 8, 1982) is an American stunt performer, stunt double, actress, dancer, and choreographer. She was a stunt double for lead actresses in numerous films. Vela-Bailey was a stunt double for leading actresses in films Avatar (2009), Total Recall (2012), Underworld: Awakening (2012), Divergent (2014), Lucy (2014), Underworld: Blood Wars (2016), Wonder Woman (2017), Avatar: The Way of Water (2023), and Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025).
Vela-Bailey also had several acting roles, primary in horror films, including portraying Diana, a main antagonist in the 2016 supernatural horror film Lights Out, also appearing in Hostel: Part III (2011), The Purge (2013), Underworld: Blood Wars (2016), and Annabelle: Creation (2017). Additionally, Vela-Bailey portrayed recurring characters in television series, including Alisha Whitley in the ABC superhero action drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014), and Owl in Disney+ superhero dark comedy fantasy series Agatha All Along (2024).
Biography
Alicia Vela-Bailey was born on July 8, 1982, in California, United States, and grew up in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, United States.[1][2][3] She is a daughter of magician Carlos Armando from El Salvador, and dancer Cecelia Vela-Bailey from North Carolina, United States.[1] She practiced dancing and gymnastics since her youth.[2] Vela-Bailey used to be member of the Pussycat Dolls group, which performed at the Caesars Palace luxury hotel and casino at the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, United States.[1][3][4] She is also a professional dancer, practicing classical ballet, jazz, and hip-hop, among others styles.[4][5] Vela-Bailey begun her career as stunt performer, working on the production of the 2005 action film BloodRayne, and the 2006 science fiction action Ultraviolet, as a stunt double of their lead actresses, Kristanna Loken and Milla Jovovich, respectively.[2][3][6] For her performance in the latter production, she was nominated for two categories at the 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards.[1]
Vela-Bailey was a stunt double for leading actress Zoe Saldaña, who starred as Neytiri in the 2009 20th Century Studios epic science fiction film Avatar. She was also a movement specialist, being a key figure in developing choreography for the characters, and training actors working with the motion capture.[4][3][6] She also portrayed a minor character of Ikeyni in the film.[1] Following this, she was a stunt double for lead actresses in numerous movies, including for Jennifer Lawrence in X-Men: First Class (2011),[3] Kate Beckinsale in Total Recall (2012), Underworld: Awakening (2012), and Underworld: Blood Wars (20176),[1][7][2] Anne Hathaway in Interstellar (2014),[3] Scarlett Johansson in Lucy (2014),[8] Shailene Woodley in Divergent (2014),[3][9] and Gal Gadot in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Wonder Woman (2017).[7][10] She was also a stunt double and stunt performer in television series such Agent Carter (2015), K.C. Undercover (2015), Westworld (2015), The Punisher (2017), The Defenders (2017), Luke Cage (2018).[1][8]
Vela-Bailey had several acting roles, primary in horror films, including portraying Diana, a main antagonist in the 2016 Warner Bros. Pictures supernatural horror film Lights Out.[2][5][11] She also had appeared in Hostel: Part III (2011), The Purge (2013), Underworld: Blood Wars (2016), and Annabelle: Creation (2017).[5][1] Additionally, Vela-Bailey portrayed recurring characters in television series, including Alisha Whitley in the ABC superhero action drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014), and Owl in Disney+ superhero dark comedy fantasy series Agatha All Along.[1][12][13]
She was a stunt double for actresses Zoe Saldaña and Sigourney Weaver in epic science fiction films Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), and Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), also training actors on set in the choreography.[4][8][14][15] Vela-Bailey also portrayed a secondary character named Zdinarsik "Z-Dog" in Avatar: The Way of Water.[8] She was also a stunt double for Saldaña in the 2023 Marvel Studios science fiction superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and also worked as a stunt double and stunt performer on television series The Orville (2022), Star Wars: Ahsoka (2023), and The Mandalorian (2023).[8]
Private life
She is married to actor and martial artist Matt Mullins.[5]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Avatar | Blonde woman in a bar | Feature film; special edition cut and collector's extended cut |
| Ikeyni | Feature film | ||
| Operations center employee | Feature film; deleted scene | ||
| Saeyla | Feature film | ||
| 2011 | Hostel: Part III | Japanese cyberpunk woman | Feature film |
| 2013 | The Purge | Blonde woman freak purger | Feature film |
| 2014 | The Purge: Anarchy | Blonde woman freak purger | Feature film; archival footage |
| 2015 | Hollywood Adventures | Hot girl #2 | Feature film |
| Spy | Woman from Paris | Feature film | |
| 2016 | Lights Out | Diana | Feature film |
| Underworld: Blood Wars | Safehouse Lycan | Feature film | |
| 2017 | Annabelle: Creation | Demon hands | Feature film |
| Evil Mullins | |||
| 2022 | Avatar: The Way of Water | Zdinarsik "Z-Dog" | Feature film |
| 2023 | Hollywood's Hard Hitters: Women in Action | Herself | Documentary film |
| Inside Pandora's Box | Herself | Documentary film | |
| 2025 | Avatar: Fire and Ash | Additional background characters | Feature film |
| Ikeyni | |||
| Reporter in Bridgehead City |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Animatrix: Final Flight of the Osiris | Gymnast | Short film |
| 2005 | BloodRayne | Stunt double for Kristanna Loken (as Rayne) | Feature film |
| 2006 | Ultraviolet | Stunt double for Milla Jovovich (as Violet Song Jat Shariff) | Feature film |
| 2008 | The Ruins | Utility stunt performer | Feature film |
| 2009 | Avatar | Stunt double for Zoe Saldaña (as Neytiri); also movement specialist | Feature film |
| The Fourth Kind | Stunt double | Feature film | |
| G-Force | Utility stunt performer | Feature film | |
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | Utility stunt performer | Feature film | |
| 2010 | Alice in Wonderland | Stunt performer as Red Queen's female townspeople | Feature film |
| Little Fockers | Stunt performer | Feature film | |
| Piranha 3D | Stunt double for Riley Steele (as Crystal) | Feature film | |
| Tales of an Ancient Empire | Stunt double for Melissa Ordway (as Princess Tanis) | Feature film | |
| Stunt double for Jennifer Siebel Newsom (as Queen Ma'at) | |||
| 2011 | I Am Number Four | Stunt performer | Feature film |
| Just Go with It | Dance double for Nicole Kidman (as Devlin Adams) | Feature film | |
| Mars Needs Moms | Stunt performer | Feature film | |
| Transformers: Dark of the Moon | Stunt double for Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (as Carly Spencer); also stunt performer | Feature film | |
| X-Men: First Class | Stunt double for Jennifer Lawrence (as Mystique) | Feature film; uncredited | |
| Zookeeper | Dance double | Feature film | |
| 2012 | |||
| Total Recall | Stunt double for Kate Beckinsale (as Lori) | Feature film | |
| Underworld: Awakening | Stunt double for Kate Beckinsale (as Selene); also stunt performer | Feature film | |
| 2013 | Ender's Game | Stunt performer and stunt double | Feature film |
| Iron Man 3 | Stunt performer | Feature film | |
| Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters | Stunt double for Alexandra Daddario (as Annabeth Chase) | Feature film | |
| 2014 | Divergent | Stunt double for Shailene Woodley (as Tris Prior) | Feature film |
| Lucy | Stunt double for Scarlett Johansson (as Lucy Miller) | Feature film | |
| Flight 7500 | Stunt double for Leslie Bibb (as Laura Baxter) | Feature film | |
| Interstellar | Stunt double for Anne Hathaway (as Amelia Brand) | Feature film | |
| 2015 | Accidental Love | Utility stunt performer | Feature film |
| Salem Rogers | Stunt double for Leslie Bibb (as Salem Rogers) | Television film | |
| Spy | Stunt performer and stunt double | Feature film | |
| 2016 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Stunt double for Gal Gadot (as Wonder Woman); also stunt performer | Feature film |
| Keeping Up with the Joneses | Stunt double for Gal Gadot (as Natalie Jones) | Feature film | |
| Marvel's Most Wanted | Stunt double for Adrianne Palicki (as Bobbi Morse) | Television film | |
| Underworld: Blood Wars | Stunt double for Kate Beckinsale (as Selene); also stunt performer | Feature film | |
| 2017 | Wonder Woman | Stunt double for Gal Gadot (as Wonder Woman); also stunt performer | Feature film |
| 2019 | Alita: Battle Angel | Stunt double for Eiza González (as Nyssiana); also stunt performer | Feature film; uncredited |
| 2022 | Avatar: The Way of Water | Stunt double for Zoe Saldaña (as Neytiri) | Feature film |
| Stunt double for Sigourney Weaver (as Kiri) | |||
| 2023 | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | Stunt double for Zoe Saldaña (as Gamora) | Feature film |
| 2024 | Road House | Stunt performer | Feature film |
| 2025 | Avatar: Fire and Ash | Stunt double for Zoe Saldaña (as Neytiri) | Feature film |
| Stunt double for Sigourney Weaver (as Kiri) |
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | True Blood | Fairy #2 | Episode: "You're No Good"; uncredited |
| 2014 | New Girl | Baby shower guest | Episode: "Girl Fight"; uncredited |
| 2015–2016 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Alisha Whitley | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
| 2017 | Future Man | Woman biotic police officer #2 | Episode: "Girth, Wind & Fire"; uncredited |
| 2024 | Agatha All Along | Owl | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
| Marvel Studios: Assembled | Herself | Documentary series; episode "The Making of Agatha All Along" | |
| 2025 | NCIS | React #5 | Episode: "Killer Instinct" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Two and a Half Men | Stunt performer | Episode: "That's Summer Sausage, Not Salami"; uncredited |
| 2008 | Eli Stone | Dancer | Episode: "Praying for Time" |
| The Office | Utility stunt performer | Episode: "Night Out" | |
| Unhitched | Utility stunt performer | Episode: "Mardi Gras Croc Attack" | |
| 2009 | America's Got Talent | Dancer | 9 episodes; uncredited |
| Criminal Minds | Stunt double for Patty Malcolm (as Ann Herron) | Episode: "The Slave of Duty"; uncredited | |
| 2010 | 82nd Academy Awards | Dancer | Television special; uncredited |
| Southland | Stunt double for Arija Bareikis (as Chickie Brown) | Episode: "Maximum Deployment" | |
| 2011–2012 | Chuck | Stunt double for Yvonne Strahovski (as Sarah Walker) | 3 episodes |
| 2012–2014 | Revolution | Stunt double for Tracy Spiridakos (as Charlie Matheson) | 15 episodes; uncredited |
| Stunt double for Daniella Alonso (as Nora Clayton) | 3 episodes; uncredited | ||
| Stunt double for Elizabeth Mitchell (as Rachel Matheson) | 2 episodes; uncredited | ||
| Stunt performer | 2 episodes; uncredited | ||
| 2013 | True Blood | Stunt performer | Episode: "The Sun" |
| 2014 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Stunt double for Shailene Woodley | Episode: "Shailene Woodley/Theo James/Zedd" |
| New Girl | Stunt performer | Episode: "Girl Fight" | |
| 2014–2015 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Stunt double for Adrianne Palicki (as Bobbi Morse) | 11 episodes |
| 2015 | Agent Carter | Stunt double for Bridget Regan (as Dottie Underwood) | 2 episodes |
| Stunt double | Episode: "The Blitzkrieg Button | ||
| Grimm | Stunt performer for Elizabeth Tulloch (as Juliette Silverton as a creature) | Episode: "Maréchaussée" | |
| K.C. Undercover | Stunt double for Zendaya (as K.C. Cooper) | 3 episodes | |
| Stitchers | Stunt double for Emma Ishta (as Kirsten Clark) | 2 episodes | |
| Teen Wolf | Stunt double for Shelley Hennig (as Malia Tate) | Episode: "Dreamcatchers" | |
| Westworld | Stunt performer | Episode: "The Original" | |
| 2015–2016 | Rizzoli & Isles | Stunt double for Angie Harmon (as Jane Clementine Rizzoli) | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Bull | Stunt double for Justine Lupe (as Ginny Bretton) | Episode: "E.J." |
| The Defenders | Assistant stunt coordinator | 8 episodes; uncredited | |
| Stunt performer | 3 episodes; uncredited | ||
| Stunt double for Sigourney Weaver (as Alexandra Reid) | 2 episodes; uncredited | ||
| Hawaii Five-0 | Stunt performer | Episode: "He ke'u na ka 'alae a Hin" | |
| Jean-Claude Van Johnson | Stunt double for Bar Paly (as Krisztina) | Episode: "The World Needs Its Hero" | |
| The Punisher | Stunt double for Deborah Ann Woll (as Karen Page) | Episode: "Virtue of the Vicious"; uncredited | |
| 2018 | Luke Cage | Assistant stunt coordinator | 13 episodes; uncredited |
| Stunt performer | 2 episodes; uncredited | ||
| 2020 | L.A.'s Finest | Stunt performer | 2 episodes; 1 episode uncredited |
| 2021 | American Horror Story | Stunt double for Rebecca Dayan (as Maria Wycoff) | Episode: "Inside" |
| Made for Love | Stunt coordinator | Episode: "I Want a Lawyer" | |
| 2022 | Gaslit | Stunt double for Julia Roberts (as Martha Mitchell) | 4 episodes |
| Stunt coordinator | Episode: "Will" | ||
| The Orville | Stunt double for Adrianne Palicki (as Kelly Grayson) | 3 episodes | |
| Westworld | Stunt double for Saffron Burrows (as Anastasia Whitney) | Episode: "Well Enough Alon" | |
| 2023 | Star Wars: Ahsoka | Stunt double for Ivanna Sakhno (as Shin Hati) | 5 episodes |
| Stunt double | Episode: "Part Two: Toil and Trouble" | ||
| The Mandalorian | Stunt performer | Episode: "Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore" | |
| 2024 | Presumed Innocent | Stunt performer | Episode: "The Verdict" |
| 2025 | Countdown | Stunt performer | Episode: "The Muzzle Pile" |
| Monster | Stunt double for Vicky Krieps (as Ilse Koch) | 2 episodes | |
| Stunt performer | Episode: "Ice" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora | Movement coach and movement specialist |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Crossfire" by Brandon Flowers | Stunt double for Charlize Theron (as herself) |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Oswaldo Betancourt (8 July 2020). "Alicia Vela-Bailey, la actriz que ha sido doble de acción de Gal Gadot y Kate Beckinsale". televisa.com.
- ^ a b c d e John Squires (July 28, 2016). "Meet the Woman Who Played Terrifying 'Lights Out' VillainPublished". bloody-disgusting.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lucia Suarez Sang (March 4, 2014). "Alicia Vela-Bailey, Stunt Double To The Stars, Talks About Upcoming Film 'Divergent'". foxnews.com.
- ^ a b c d Julia Mary Register (December 22, 2025). "Why Dancers Make Strong Stunt Performers in Action Films". dancemagazine.com.
- ^ a b c d "Annabelle 2 : mais qui est Alicia Vela-Bailey ?". programme-tv.net (in French). 7 October 2017.
- ^ a b Phillip Picardi (March 21, 2014). "Shailene Woodley's 'Divergent' Stunt Double on Jumping off Buildings, Being Set on Fire, and Why You Should Take a Dance Class". teenvogue.com.
- ^ a b "Hollywood stuntwoman gives the lowdown on what doing stunts is really like". entertainment.ie.
- ^ a b c d e Rick Stevenson (October 10, 2023). "Ahsoka's Stunt Doubles Are Unrecognizable In Real Life". looper.com.
- ^ Alyssa Bailey (July 21, 2014). "Watch Shailene Woodle's Stunt Double Jump 66 Feet for 'Divergent'". cosmopolitan.com.
- ^ Sidney Fussell (February 24, 2016). "14 stunt doubles behind the biggest movies this year". businessinsider.com.
- ^ John Squires (June 23, 2017). "Crazy Behind the Scenes Shots Show 'Lights Out' Villain You Didn't Quite See". bloody-disgusting.com.
- ^ Molly Freeman (April 27, 2016). "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Singularity Review & Spoilers Discussion". screenrant.com.
- ^ Demet Koc (May 11, 2024). "Marvel Television's 'Agatha All Along': Cast Breakdown". nexuspointnews.com.
- ^ Richard Nebens (January 26, 2023). "James Cameron Permitted 1 Avatar Actor to Direct Scenes for the Sequel". thedirect.com.
- ^ "Movie Surfers. Behind the Scenes of Avatar: Fire and Ash with @MichelleKhare". youtube.com. December 12, 2025.