Dana Hee
Dana Hee (born as Dana Lynn Davidson on November 9, 1961 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is an American martial artist, stuntwoman, action film actress and model, who has also worked as sports color commentator, trainer, spokesperson, motivational speaker and master of ceremonies, as well as a rancher.[1][2] She was a gold medalist at 1988 Summer Olympics in taekwondo (women's lightweight division).[1][2]
Martial arts
Hee turned to martial arts as a way to regain confidence after having been a victim of sexual and domestic abuse, almost committing suicide at the age of 20.[1][3] She began training in Shotokan karate in 1980, before switching to taekwondo in 1984. Besides her gold at the 1988 Summer Olympics, she won gold medals at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team trials and finals, as well as in 21 national divisional tournaments from 1985 to 1987. She also won silver medals at the U.S. National Championships in 1986, 1987 and 1988, a bronze medal at the Universiade in 1986, four silver and one bronze medals in national divisional tournaments, and finished fifth in her division at the 1987 World Taekwondo Championships. Since 1989, she has also practiced many other styles for the films, including aikido, boxing, capoeira, jiu jitsu, kung fu and wrestling.[2] In 2007, Hee was given the "Female Competitor of the Year Award" and inducted into the U.S. Grandmasters Society Hall of Fame. In 2013 she received the highest honor in Taekwondo when she was inducted into the Official TAEKWONDO HALL OF FAME®
Film
Hee has performed stunts in dozens of films and TV series since 1993, including Batman Forever, Charlie's Angels, Gangs of New York, Independence Day, Lethal Weapon 4, Mortal Kombat, Spider-Man 2, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and The Avengers, and was a double for Cameron Diaz, Daryl Hannah, Geena Davis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner, Nicole Kidman, Rene Russo, Sandra Bullock and Uma Thurman, among others.[1][3][4] Her acting roles included Siann in Mortal Kombat: Konquest and the mutated Sil in Species,[5] and is perhaps best known for playing Mileena in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.[6]
Other activities
Dana Hee is also a television color commentator (local, national, and intional taekwondo events), a master of ceremonies (USOC Olympic Academy, Olympic Sports Festival, San Francisco-Seoul Sister City Fund raiser, and television anchor for New Mexico celebrity golf tournament "Legends & Heroes"). Hee transitioned from full-time stuntwoman to motivational speaking in the summer of 2004. Since then, she has spoken for numerous groups and organizations at the 2008 National FFA Organization convention. Other clients include IBM, Hewlett-Packard, United Way of America, USDA-NRCS, The Global Leaders, and NOVA (National Organization for Victim Assistance). Her themes revolve around "overcoming obstacles", "rising to the challenge" and "victim to victorious". Hee also contributes time and assistance to other philanthropic causes as an honorary board member of NOVA (since 2011), advisory board member of Equine Protection New Mexico (2010), advisor to the CAMPRUSK foundation for retired horses (since 2005), in addition to inspirational thoughts and talks for online forums and volunteered workshops.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Tan, Caroline (2012-08-08). "Life After the Olympics: From Gold Medalist to Hollywood Stuntwoman and Chicken Rancher | NBC Southern California". Nbclosangeles.com. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Information from Dana Hee's official website
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sprit2Power. "Special Guest Stars | Martial Arts Movie". Spirit2power.com. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
- ↑ Rayburn, Rosalie (2007-04-22). "Once a Hollywood Stuntwoman, Placitas Resident Plunges Into Motivational Speaking". ABQjournal. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
- ↑ "Dana Hee - Yahoo! TV". Tv.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
- ↑ Handsome, Man (2010-09-14). "Dana Hee in Mortal Kombat: Annhilation". UGO.com. Retrieved 2013-07-20.