Michaela Chernoch McAllister is an American stunt performer and actress. A former collegiate gymnast, McAllister's athletic background laid a strong foundation for her transition into the demanding world of stunt work. McAllister initially pursued a career in elementary education after graduating from Southern Utah University in 2014, where she was an all-conference gymnast for the Flippin' Birds. However, her passion for performance and physical challenges led her to Hollywood, where she quickly established herself as a formidable stunt professional. Her early work included doubling for stars such as Will Smith in Bright and Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath. Notably, she performed stunts for Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh in Black Widow (2021), and Mikey Madison in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019), where she endured intense sequences, including being "wrecked by Brad Pitt and set on fire by Leonardo DiCaprio". McAllister's exceptional skills have earned her significant recognition in the industry. She won three Taurus World Stunt Awards for her work in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. She received a nomination for her contributions to Black Widow. Additionally, she was part of the stunt ensembles that secured Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Action Performance in both films.
