The creative powerhouses behind that unforgettable Dynasty-style catfight in Episode 206 of Apple TV‘s Palm Royale — an excessive brawl that required as much precision and athleticism as it did theatrical flair — are now making history.
Stunt coordinator Mallory Thompson and stunt performers Colby Lemmo and Sonja Wajih all earned Emmy nods for their work on the sequence. In doing so, they become the first all-woman stunt team from the same series to be nominated across both Stunt Coordination and Stunt Performance since the Television Academy introduced the Outstanding Stunt Performance category in 2021.
Designing action for a show like Palm Royale requires a unique approach. It isn’t a gritty crime thriller or a sci-fi blockbuster; it’s an environment defined by high society, grand entrances, and dramatic flair.
“It’s very over the top, high femme, high society,” explains Thompson. “So we incorporated that into our stunts through big hair, whipping that around — especially in our Dynasty-style fight — and these bigger movements, but then crashing very hard to the ground. That drove the action for this show.”
For Lemmo, doubling the series’ star Kristen Wiig meant leaning into subtle comedic choices on set. When Wiig took on a new role playing her character Maxine’s twin sister, Lemmo had to carefully track every mannerism.
“Kristen has quite an extensive catalog of movement that we’ve seen throughout the years,” Lemmo says. “When we’re actually on set, we’re watching them on the monitor during their takes and then replicating as best we can what they’re doing. … She plays the twin sister, who moves differently and acts differently than Maxine does. So I just made sure I was paying attention to the choices she was making, then applying them to my performance when it was my turn to go in.”
Finding the right line between slapstick comedy and believable physical impact comes down to understanding the characters driving the scene. “It’s very character-driven,” says Wajih, who served as the stunt double for Claudia Ferri. “Everybody falls differently. So depending on who the character is, their age, their disposition, and where they’re coming from — that definitely drives how you’re going to trip and fall, whether it’s funny, serious, or somewhere in between.”
Executing a heavy stunt sequence in high heels, designer dresses, or a bikini with a cover-up is another challenge entirely.
“In Episode 206, it was a huge part of it because we had them in very little clothing,” Thompson notes. “Colby was in a bikini with a cover-up, and [Sonja is] in a dress. And heels! And they’re fighting throughout this house. So we had to take that into account. When we were shooting the rehearsal we knew all of those things were going to happen, but we didn’t scale back. We were just aware of them and tried to figure out how to make it work within that. I mean, they still fell down stairs in their heels.”
Without bulky jackets or heavy pants to conceal traditional padding, the team turned to clever, time-tested tricks of the trade to prevent injuries.
“We’re really good at hiding pads,” Thompson laughs. “Especially as women, because you see a lot of what women wear in shows, and it’s not that much sometimes. So we’ve got these ice skater pads that are clear gel, and you stick them in your hip, and you would never know they’re there.”
Receiving an Emmy nomination carries deep emotional weight for the Palm Royale team — not just for the accolade itself, but for what it represents for women in the stunt community.
“It carries definitely a different sort of weight to be nominated alongside powerful, game-changing women who are forming the industry for those coming after us, and to pay homage to those who have come before us,” reflects Wajih. “It really, really is so special.”
For Lemmo, working on the series was a dream experience from start to finish.
“To be nominated with these women as the first-ever all-female stunt team to be nominated is an incredible honor, and to be recognized by our peers. … I’m just truly grateful,” Lemmo shares. “This is definitely one of the shows I’ve had the most fun working on in my entire career. I left that set every day with the biggest smile, and my heart was so full.
This article and video are presented by Apple TV.
