They Really Put The Pedal To The Metal
Sometimes, when you see a character behind the wheel executing a death-defying drift or barreling through city streets at breakneck speed it really is the actor in control of that car. From Steve McQueen tearing through San Francisco in Bullitt, to Tom Cruise doing his own wheelies, these 20 actors took the wheel to perform their own incredible driving stunts.
Steve McQueen
The legendary King of Cool did much of his own driving in Bullitt, including the iconic Mustang chase through San Francisco. He also rode his own Triumph in The Great Escape and took on gritty driving roles in The Getaway. McQueen was an avid race car driver in real life and even competed in professional races, including the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Bill Hickman
A stunt-driver turned actor, Hickman drove the black Charger in Bullitt, going head-to-head with McQueen’s Mustang in one of cinema’s most iconic chases. He also performed real-traffic stunts in The French Connection and The Seven-Ups. Hickman was a trusted stunt coordinator and often worked without modern safety precautions, relying on sheer skill.
Solar Productions, Bullitt (1968)
Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds famously did much of his own driving in Smokey and the Bandit, bringing authenticity to the car-heavy action. In Deliverance, he even went over a real waterfall for a stunt. Reynolds had a deep appreciation for stunt performers and often credited them for making action scenes look so seamless.
Universal, Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Tom Cruise
Known for performing nearly all his own stunts, Cruise took the wheel for dangerous car sequences in several Mission: Impossible films. He’s trained extensively in high-performance driving and works with top stunt coordinators to perfect his techniques. Cruise holds a professional racing license and reportedly insists on retakes until scenes feel entirely real.
Mission: Impossible (1996), Paramount Pictures
Keanu Reeves
In the John Wick franchise, Reeves performed most of his own driving stunts, including high-speed chases while shooting out of the windows. He trained in stunt driving and martial arts to portray the ultra-capable assassin. Reeves is also the co-founder of Arch Motorcycle Company, further underscoring his love for thrilling vehicles.
Matt Damon
While portraying Jason Bourne, Damon handled several car chases himself, such as the chaotic Mini Cooper escape in The Bourne Identity. He learned precision driving for the role and insisted on realism. Damon worked closely with stunt trainers to build confidence behind the wheel and make each maneuver believable.
Universal, The Bourne Identity (2002)
Ansel Elgort
In Baby Driver, Elgort did several of his own stunts, including complex drifting and burnout sequences. He went through intensive driver training to master techniques like J-turns and brake-stands. Director Edgar Wright tailored scenes to Elgort’s growing stunt abilities, allowing for more ambitious sequences.
Sony Pictures, Baby Driver (2017)
Vin Diesel
In the Fast & Furious series, Vin Diesel performed many of his own driving scenes, especially earlier in the franchise. He brought physicality and aggression to the wheel during shootouts and drag races. Diesel has said he believes in authenticity and likes to push himself on screen.
The Fast and The Furious | Supra vs Ferrari by The Fast Saga
Paul Walker
Paul Walker was passionate about cars off screen, and that carried over into his Fast & Furious performances. He often did his own driving, especially in Fast Five, where he tackled technical street racing scenes. Walker even competed in professional racing events and worked on cars in his personal garage.
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan is globally known for doing all his own stunts—including car stunts in both his Hong Kong action films and Hollywood movies. He’s performed high-speed driving, jumped between vehicles, and choreographed intricate vehicular action. Chan also designs many of his own stunt sequences, often incorporating cars in innovative ways.
Zoë Bell
In Death Proof, Zoë Bell performed a thrilling stunt where she clung to the hood of a speeding Dodge Challenger without safety rigs. As a trained stuntwoman, she brought realism and intensity to the film’s brutal car chases. Bell performed all of her character’s action scenes, making her one of the few actors to fully embody both role and risk.
zoë scene pack | death proof (2007) - logoless | zoe bell, cortney
Carey Loftin
Loftin performed the high-speed Ferrari chase in Against All Odds at age 68, proving age couldn’t stop a true professional. He also handled a monstrous Autocar truck in Maximum Overdrive. Loftin had one of the longest careers in Hollywood stunt driving, often doing dangerous work that others refused.
De Laurentiis Entertainment, Maximum Overdrive (1986)
Jeremy Renner
Renner performed several of his own stunts, including those involving vehicles, in films like The Town and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. He once dangled from a helicopter with minimal safety equipment for a scene. His willingness to go beyond traditional acting earned him praise from stunt coordinators.
Christian Bale
In Ford v Ferrari, Bale did much of his own racing on vintage tracks while portraying driver Ken Miles. He immersed himself in the world of 1960s racing, learning the techniques of cornering and downshifting. Bale's performance gained critical acclaim in part because of the realism he brought to the wheel.
Twentieth Century, Ford v Ferrari (2019)
Charlize Theron
Theron handled a lot of her own driving in the 2003 remake of The Italian Job and Atomic Blonde, including stunt sequences in narrow alleys and European streets. She also trained in hand-to-hand combat and vehicular maneuvering for the latter role. Her dedication to authenticity was praised by the stunt team, who said she performed as well as seasoned pros.
Focus Features, Atomic Blonde (2017)
Jason Statham
Statham has long performed his own driving stunts, especially in the Transporter films, where car chases are central. He brings a level of precision and control rarely matched on set. Statham’s background in diving and martial arts gave him the discipline to excel in car-centric action scenes.
Jason Statham Drive Lamborghini Murcielago in Transporter 2 (2005) by CAR IN MOVIE
Tom Hardy
In Mad Max: Fury Road, Hardy took the wheel for much of the intense vehicular mayhem across the desert. He worked with stunt drivers to learn how to handle the specialized post-apocalyptic vehicles. Hardy’s commitment added a gritty, immersive feel to the chaotic world of the film.
Mad Max: Fury Road Featurette - Max (2015) - Tom Hardy Action Movie HD, Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon
Michelle Rodriguez
Rodriguez has done a significant amount of her own driving in the Fast & Furious franchise. She’s completed stunt training and even performed complex drift sequences on her own. Rodriguez is a vocal supporter of women in action roles and has consistently pushed to do more physical work herself.
Michelle Rodriguez Race F-TYPE SVR 200 mph Like FAST and FURIOUS by GommeBlog.it
Daniel Craig
Craig has done much of his own stunt driving in his James Bond tenure, especially in Quantum of Solace and Skyfall. He trained in tactical driving and often worked with stunt teams to stay within safe boundaries while pushing realism. His dedication helped revive Bond as a more physical, gritty character.
Angelina Jolie
Jolie has performed multiple driving stunts, including intense chase scenes in Salt and Wanted. She’s known for throwing herself into action sequences, learning skills from weapons handling to driving. Jolie often insisted on minimal green screen to enhance realism in her scenes.
Wanted (2/11) Movie CLIP - Grocery Store Shootout (2008) HD by Movieclips
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