Being the stunt double of one of Hollywood's hottest stars has put a Cape Town mother's life on a completely unexpected path - helping cancer survivors.
Elise Fernandez, Halle Berry's stunt double in her latest film, Dark Tide, which was shot in Cape Town, has begun helping cancer sufferers by sharing stories of her own triumph over breast cancer.
The mother of two had a double mastectomy before going to work on Dark Tide which opened in South Africa this weekend.
She had reconstructive surgery only to discover that the cancer had returned to the area from which her right breast had been excised.
Doctors reconstructed her left breast and shortly after being wheeled out of the operating theatre she learned that she had got the job of production assistant on the movie. Two days later she was at work.
Then she was made one of Berry's stunt doubles.
"I was in a lot of pain but I didn't tell anyone until much later, when I felt better," said the 39-year-old. "I took the job because who doesn't want to work with Halle Berry? I also needed the money."
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