We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Badger a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I have been incredibly blessed to have a 30 year career in the film and television industry and, having been a young athlete (gymnastics, US Swim and Dive Team, etc), I certainly found my niche serving as a stunt performer, stunt double, and stunt coordinator. Having said that, Hollywood can be a cruel and fickle business, and I’ve seen how many people dedicate their entire life and identity to it only be used, abused, and eventually discarded. Even the most beloved A-list actors struggle to stay relevant in a culture that values youth, beauty, and the ever changing idea of what is trending.
There is intrinsic danger when a person invests their very identity into any job or pursuit, allowing that objective to determine their worth. There is also SO much more to us than what we do for a living! How would you answer if someone asked you to sum up WHO YOU ARE? Would you respond by telling them WHAT YOU DO? How you identify yourself is so vital so as to better understand your past, your growth, your passions, and your goals. An understanding of your identity and true value also serves as an anchor during the storms of life.
For me, my faith is a guiding and shaping influence in my life, so my identity is in Christ and I would label myself a child of God before all else. I am also a wife of nearly 24 years and a mother of an amazing son. These three components make up the very core foundation of my heart and motivations. Extended from there are my desires to serve my larger family, my church, and the community as a whole. Only in addition to these things am I a stunt coordinator and performer because that role is ‘What I Do’, and not what makes me ‘Who I Am’.
I believe it is the understanding of my identity that has allowed me to have a successful career over three decades. While it has been a process- and one that I am still navigating, I have been able to handle the unpredictable nature of Hollywood because my self worth / identity is not contingent on the whims of the industry. This has been especially apparent during the covid shut downs and this latest strike when we’ve all been unemployed for many months. If one’s identity is strictly based on the job, then they are left without purpose when there is no job to be done. For this reason, I would encourage others to seek the spiritual and psychological peace that comes from knowing and defining who you are, lest the world and its volatile circumstances define you instead.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Our union, SAG-AFTRA, is currently completing negotiations so I’m not allowed to speak specifically about my projects.
In general, I really enjoy designing film and television action because I’m motivated to create exciting and violent looking stunts that are repeatable while being executed safely. My goal is for everyone to go home each night feeling good enough to be able to enjoy their family or down time.
I feel especially blessed to have nurtured a marriage and raise a child while trying to find the work / life balance. I don’t believe that I ever perfected that balance, but our family has grown so much together over the years that I wouldn’t change a thing.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Stubborn Perseverance, a strong work ethic, and a desire to always continue learning- which includes having the humility to be teachable. Don’t compromise on what is central to you and your identity. I was unwilling to sacrifice a family for a career and now, in hindsight, I’m so grateful for that decision.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
The Bible. I’ve had the same NIV Life Application Study Bible for 25+ years and it is marked up, dog eared, and the cover is taped together, but I love it dearly. The most published and popular book of all time contains immense wisdom for all aspects of life and I can see how much I’ve grown through my studies over the years. My faith is also of benefit to all of my employers as I work for them as though working for the Lord- striving to provide the very best integrity in all that I do. This is the book that has saved and molded my life and I would recommend it to everyone.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.JenniferBadger.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.badger.9
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0046087/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Image Credits
I own the rights to all included photos
