Jenny Ayumi Umbhau flips the script on what strength really looks like
When women fight, fly and fearlessly fall — on purpose — most people gawk or raise their eyebrows… But for stuntwoman Jenny Ayumi Umbhau, doing it all and being unapologetic about it is just her thing. It comes naturally. South African by birth, global by spirit and unstoppable by nature, she’s the very definition of what it means to break barriers. An all-rounder, Jenny doesn’t just tick boxes — she smashes them with the grace of a dancer and the precision of a martial artist. And in an industry where being a woman often means being underestimated, she’s made it clear: don’t mistake her small stature and femininity for fragility.
@clubx_magazine We caught the action behind the cover shoot with @jennyumbhau and she slayed every look🤺! She’s not just doing stunts, she is the stunt ✨ Tap to watch the queen in her element🥷🏼 #ClubXMagazine #BehindTheScenes #CoverShoot ♬ original sound – ClubX Magazine
Leaps of faith
From cartwheeling toddler to fearless stunt dynamo, Jenny’s life journey has been anything but ordinary. She twirled through ballet, flipped into artistic gymnastics and studied sports psychology — only to land in the adrenaline-charged world of movie stunt work, where she truly found her calling. Of Japanese, German and American heritage, Jenny was raised by dream-big parents who cheered her on every wild leap of faith.
Over the past decade, she’s turned her passion for movement into a powerhouse career — as a model, dancer, Cirque du Soleil performer and proud member of Hitz International Stuntmen. She’s tackled high-octane roles in The Maze Runner (2014), Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016), Tomb Raider (2018) and Escape Room (2019). And her star continues to rise: recent standout performances in HBO’s Raised By Wolves, hit Netflix series Wednesday and the action-packed Warrior — where she brings young Lai to life — have fans worldwide on the edge of their seats.
In the last two years, Jenny has bagged commercials in which she dances and does gymnastics, which she never expected. “I honestly thought I wouldn’t land this work as it was predominantly dance-based and I was so out of practise, but I persevered and out of hundreds of dancers, I was one of three chosen:’ she says.
“Then I landed an international commercial which was shot in Argentina. It was also a bit of a far stretch, as they usually don’t like to fly people abroad for commercials, but by chance a friend had sent me the audition brief — they were looking for a gymnast to body-double for Suni Lee [an American gold-medal Olympic gymnast], and next thing I knew I was flying to Argentina for the very first time to fulfil yet another goal on my bucket list!”
On the same job, Jenny also got to work for Vi Dan, who is a world-renowned stunt coordinator and somebody she’d been dreaming of working with, for the series Dune: Prophecy, which was shot in Budapest, Hungary.
“I got to double the beautiful Chloe Lea and work alongside some badass women!” she says. “Then, obviously, the very big one was being called back to be Jenna Ortega’s stunt double for Wednesday Season 2 in Dublin, Ireland… it was all a dream come true.”
From flipping over cars to performing with hypnotic poise on the dance floor, Jenny’s journey has been anything but conventional. But it’s precisely her defiance of convention that makes her the perfect face of our Women’s Month issue. She’s rewriting the rules, not just for herself but for every girl who’s ever been told she’s “too soft” or “too pretty” or “not strong enough” to do something.
A balancing act
Jenny has worked with some major directors in her time, including Tim Burton, Wes Ball and Roar Uthaug, but she’s learned so much from everyone on set and doesn’t take any interaction lightly.
“Every person I get to work with inspires me in different ways. But I have yet to meet somebody who inspires me more than Brett Chan.” He’s a renowned stunt coordinator and plays Muchen in Warrior.
A close second is Vic Armstrong —the second unit director on Wednesday. “He was the OG stunt double for Harrison Ford in all the Indiana Jones movies. He is 78 years young and has the heart of a 21-year-old. He’s been doing stunts since the age of 14 and has worked his way from stunt performer to director:’ she says.
“Over the course of Season 2, I got the chance to bond with him, and he just really inspired me. Knowing that I could one day become a second unit director, or even a director, made me want to push towards that goal… He is living proof that the world is your oyster, and with hard work and a good attitude you can achieve pretty much anything you set your mind to!”
Always positive and in great spirits, Jenny keeps her energy up and her body and mind nourished by prioritising her mental health above all else. But she admits it’s not always easy.
“I realised that with age comes a whole different ball game of stress, anxiety and depression. But on the other hand, with age also comes awareness, maturity and prioritising yourself and your happiness. I’ve been prioritising my mental health a lot more these last few years and I’ve found happiness and peace in simple things, like a walk on the beach with my dad and dogs every morning, or a nice hot-yoga session, or just creating short films with friends and collaborating with like-minded people,” she enthuses.
“I’ve noticed just by doing those things on the daily, I’m able to keep those stresses and hard days at bay. But in all honesty, the secret to a happy, positive life is to surround yourself with people who inspire you and help you grow — or animals. My three rescue dogs, Nugget, Stitch and Tofu, are my saving grace. Whenever I just need a pick-me-up, they are there with an abundance of love to give.
“I am fortunate to have such a strong support system of family, friends, an amazing partner and my amazing pups, who are always there to lend a helping hand or just be there when I’m feeling a bit low.”
Waking up at 6.45am daily, Jenny hops from a sculpt – or power-yoga class to the beach to training and filming but always makes time for socialising and self-care. The girl loves getting her lashes done too. Her evenings include a stretch or dance class or taekwondo.
In her line of work, “we never really look prettied-up or girly. We’re usually covered in dirt or dressed like dudes. So, in normal life, I strive to look my best and try to maintain my feminine image.
“I’ve definitely figured out how to balance my life and work a bit better. I’ve been actively making sure that my personal needs are met and that I’m always listening to my body and my heart. But this is not to say I don’t have my ‘off’ days. At the end of the day, I’m only human, and sometimes I struggle with the everyday issues that everybody else deals with?”
A woman’s work
Jenny’s presence in the local film and television industry is a sign that change is not only coming, it’s already landed, done a backflip and stuck the landing. Her activism is woven into her art: she advocates for better representation in a traditionally male-dominated domain, safer conditions for stunt performers, and increased mentorship for young women breaking into the film industry.
She’s also making waves internationally, catching the attention of directors for her raw talent and unmatched physicality. But Jenny’s not just chasing fame — she’s building a legacy. And in the process, she’s turning action into activism.
“After years of putting in the work and proving myself to the industry, I finally feel like I have a voice and can confidently guide others now to be the best that they can be too. I want to eventually become a well-respected stunt coordinator because I worked hard and proved my worth to get there?’
She says that stunt performers always do their very best to stay as safe as humanly possible. “However, the nature of our job is putting ourselves in risky but calculated situations, so injury is always a possibility. But I’m always working on my craft and training my body as best as I can, so that when the time comes to do a dangerous stunt, I am fully prepared.
“Most stunt performers already have quite a few battle scars from jobs, varying from little scars to pretty gnarly ones. But the overall goal is to avoid getting a bad injury that will take you out of the game for a while. We always want to be prepared for the next job and be in top form. However, a few bumps and bruises and battle scars along the way won’t kill you — it’ll only make you stronger and look badass!”
Yes, you can!
To be Jenny Ayumi Umbhau is to carry strength in your body, fire in your voice and softness in your soul. It’s to live at the intersection of impact and artistry. And it’s to remind us all that ‘fierce’ doesn’t always look like brute force — sometimes, it’s graceful, grounded and unapologetically feminine.
When asked what she thinks being an empowered woman means, she says: “Being the protagonist of my own story. Being able to inspire the younger generation, allowing them to believe that against all odds, you can do and be anything you want.
No matter your gender, size or race, if you put the work in and you don’t give up, you will eventually make your dreams and aspirations come true. I want to be a role model to others and be the proof that with hard work and persistence, you can do anything your heart desires.” As empowered as she is, the world of acting and stuntwork has room for improvement when it comes to supporting women in the field. “By giving us the opportunity to play the male-heavy roles,” she says. “I think in this day and age we should all be able to audition for any role, regardless of gender. But all in all, I do feel like the tide has turned and that we are slowly getting equal opportunities, unlike 10 years ago.” Despite the hurdles and limitations, Jenny believes this career path is absolutely a viable one for those who are passionate enough to go for it.
“100% yes! Otherwise, I would have changed careers ages ago. It’s not an easy job to break into or an easy job to maintain, and you will often find yourself questioning your decisions,” she says candidly. “But when done right, you will have walked into one of the most fulfilling jobs you could have ever chosen. To see what my body is capable of enduring and to see the way it can move still excites me to this day.”
She adds that you have to stay consistent and continue to push your own boundaries. “In this industry you can’t stop learning and growing. So, I fully back anybody who wants to become a stunt performer — just know it may seem impossible or tough to break into the industry, but it’ll totally be worth it in the end.”
Of course, when your day job requires you to regularly, fearlessly, throw yourself into risky situations, it will invariably rub off on your philosophy of life. Jenny’s motto in life is: If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. She has learnt to be resilient against all odds.
“Life will throw you so many obstacles and challenges that make you want to give up or quit, and it’s in these moments that you need stand back up, lift your chin up high, remind yourself of your goals and your dreams, and try again,” she says. “No matter what tries to break you, keep persisting… It’ll all be worth it.”
Another one of her favourite mantras is: She believed she could… so she did! “This is a little shout-out to all my strong, independent, dream-chasing girls and ladies out there. You are capable of amazing things. Don’t let anybody or anything, especially your own self-doubt, let you think otherwise.
“If you believe you can do it and you put every ounce of your energy and love into it, there’s no way it can’t work out for you.”
Fast Facts
- Full name: Jennifer Anne Umbhau
- DOB: 9 February 1993
- Hometown: Fish Hoek, Cape Town
- How she lets loose: Dancing! Any style of dance puts her in a good mood.
- On her bucket list: To be a lead stunt double in a Marvel superhero movie.
- Favourite song right now: Debussy’s ‘Clair de Lune’ (she’s learning to play it on the piano) and ‘That Part’ by Lauren Spencer Smith.
- Loves grabbing a bite at: Simply Asia — order 508 with chicken. Then Royal Tea for the dairy delight bubble tea with oat milk.
- Best stunt hack she’s discovered: Crossing your harness leg straps. It’s not really a new hack but if you know, you know!
- First thing she does after filming a stunt scene: If there’s a dog, she’d like to pat it. Otherwise, her boyfriend Maxime Coulon is usually there to give her a well-done kiss and a hard pat on the back.
Keep up with Jenny
Instagram: @jennyayumi24
TikTok: @jennyumbhau
YouTube: Jenny Ayumi Umbhau
By: Charndré Emma Kippie
Photography by: Zhann Solomons
Text courtesy of Club X magazine
