While they aren’t often the faces of film and TV, stunt performers are just as important to productions as anyone else. Jewelianna Ramos-Ortiz does it all as an actress, martial artist and stunt performer, and recently starred as Maria Alvarez in Cobra Kai’s Season 6 Part 2, out now on Netflix. We chatted with Jewelianna to learn more about her journey in the entertainment industry, some of the highlights, and what’s to come!
Jewelianna’s journey began with learning martial arts at just three years old. Combined with her love of performing, Jewelianna has since gone on to star in major projects, including doubling for Jenna Ortega in the 2024 Beetlejuice sequel and stunting in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Auditioning as a stunt performer is much different than a typical actor or actresses’ journey, as Jewelianna said stunts is a word of mouth industry. She has long been developing her stunt reel and adding a specific set of skills, such as falling and learning how to command space. She said stunt performers get submission calls looking for a skillset and they also have to submit a current look photo to make sure they have the right body that fits the role and matches their double.
“We are acting with our physical body instead of with our face and our words.”
We had to ask what it was like working with the incredible Jenna Ortega on Beatlejuice Beatlejuice, and Jewelianna said just as much prep goes into working as a stunt double as it does when you are acting. She had a lot of conversations with and studied Jenna to learn her mannerisms and her character’s emotions and motivations to learn how to act with her body in specific scenes.
“[Jenna Ortega] is really passionate about storytelling and creating change and inspiring the next generation and being that representation as a Latina.”
While Jewelianna was new to Cobra Kai, joining in season 6, she said the cast was so incredibly welcoming and fun to work with. Jewelianna is a World Martial Arts Champion and grew up watching The Karate Kid, and said she enjoyed working with the cast who are now martial artists themselves after training since season one.
“Everyone was in this mindset of respect, discipline, indomitable spirit, patience, modesty, humility, and it brought us together in a beautiful way.”
Jewelianna even got to help create choreography and work on fight scenes, flexing her vast martial arts background! And because she is shorter, she joked she was often picked up during the brawl fight scenes so now is your opportunity to go back and rewatch!
“The [Cobra Kai] cast were so welcoming, they were the coolest.”
Jewelianna’s character Maria is a local student at Furia de Pantera and participates in the Sekai Taikai, and as a storyteller, she said getting to play a character with a name was super helpful in understanding her emotions and the decisions she makes.
“Maria is good and she’s got this confidence because she knows she is good but she is slightly emotional.”
Jewelianna has multiple exciting projects in the works, and is even doing some stunt work in the upcoming Superman film. When audiences watch the movie, Jewelianna hopes they can look out for those background characters and the work of the stunt teams to recognize just how much of an impact they can have in film.
Thank you, Jewelianna, for Facetiming with Young Entertainment! Make sure to follow her on her Instagram at @karate.jewels. Watch the rest of the interview where we ask her more about the technical side of stunt performing and her favorite behind the scenes bloopers on set of Cobra Kai. While you’re there, be sure to like and subscribe to our channel for the latest news in young entertainment.
Consider this:
- Studying actors or actresses on camera is super important in understanding their mannerisms and ticks to help prepare for stunts.
- Stunt people are unique storytellers and must be able to move a story through action.
