Bruised, Bold, and Unbreakable

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Daughters of Daring: Hollywood Cowgirl Stunt Women

They rode when it wasn’t safe, fell when it wasn’t planned, and kept going when most would have quit.

The longevity of cowgirl stuntwomen varied wildly. Polly Burson, hailed as the “premiere stuntwoman in Hollywood,” stayed in the saddle for more than three decades, retiring only when she decided the risks had finally outweighed the rewards. Others, like stunt double Betty Miles, left early. After a few close calls, she chose the relative safety of a classroom over the dangers of the set.

For many, the thrill drew them in, but the reality tested their limits. Horse-stunt expert Aline Goodwin endured injuries that took months to heal. While filming a Western in 1930, a runaway horse slammed her into a tree, fracturing three vertebrae. Doctors later told her it was a miracle she could walk at all.

Then there was Betty Danko, mauled by a cougar during a stunt gone wrong. Thirteen deep bites left permanent scars and unforgettable pain. Still, she summed up the life with grit and honesty: fire, falls, wires, knives, water, and flames—“all for the sake of art and a paycheck.”

These women risked everything so movie audiences could believe the impossible.

To learn more, read Daughters of Daring: Hollywood Cowgirl Stunt Women

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