Carrie Bernans is making her own way so stay out of it!

If you don’t know who Carrie Bernans is then you must not be watching blockbusters on the big screen. From actress to stunt woman and producer she is someone you will want to pay attention to in Hollywood. She isn’t your usual Hollywood actress because she can recite her own lines and do all her own stunts. Carrie isn’t letting nothing stand in her way as she leaves her mark in the entertainment industry. Oh and if you want to be in her way she will gladly move you out the way. 

“ I never put limitations on myself”

Carrie comes from a background where her growth has always been nurtured. From an early age till now the people in her circle have always encouraged her to see the many opportunities that life has to offer. “ One of my mentors, Belinda Campbel always said that excellence is the standard,” said Bernans. Whatever she puts her mind to she is going to do and achieve it. When she made her way to Hollywood she didn’t even know that stunt people were a thing because she thought all actors and actresses did their own stunts. She was an actress first and a stunt woman second as a side hustle. That side hustle became not only a second source of income but another full time job. Carrie never blocks her blessings or turns down the opportunity to make other streams of income.

“When I say I’m an actress they ask what have you done”

When she arrived in Los Angeles six years ago she came with three months worth of rent and the determination to make it. Carrie drove for Uber and would be asked by passengers what they could see her in when she told them she was an actor. “ I would say we had an NDA so I couldń’t talk about my projects,” said Bernans laughly. She learned that in this industry it is perception and definitely like the Art of War when it comes to how you respond to questions as such. It’s not necessarily fake until you make it to Carrie, but it’s the confidence one must have so that no opportunity is left behind. 

“I said I would never go back to a regular life”

When she received the call while driving Uber, she booked Black Panther and an email was on it’s way with hotel and lodging information. This was the moment she knew that her life was going to change for the better and there was no turning back. From being picked up by a black luxury SUV at the airport to the stay on the 22nd floor in the hotel, she knew this was her time. “ This is the life I’m going to continue to have, period,” said Bernans. Even before this she said she would be picked up by a driver in a black SUV, flying business class, and on her way to shoot a motion picture.  

“Hollywood does this thing to you sometimes that makes you feel like you aren’t qualified enough depending on what level you are at.” 

She isn’t waiting on Hollywood to validate her because she doesn’t need validation and validation is definitely for parking. Producing a film had always been a dream of Carrie’s but she was held back by the Hollywood notion that she needed to be in the industry for over a decade. “ During COVID I was like I’m going to go make my film and do it all,” said Bernans. Good thing she trusts her instinct because the film was entered into over 25 film festivals and one over 10 awards. This is a testament to how she believes we have so many hidden talents within ourselves and that they aren’t shown because we limit ourselves. 

For anyone looking to make it in the industry, Carrie advises them to check their circle because proximity is equally as important as exposure. She urges people to get out there more and let people know what they do. “ Amazing talents go undiscovered because people assume that people know what they do or what their talents are,” said Bernans. She wants you to get out and just show up because that’s all you can do.