Palm Royale’s All‑Women Stunt Team Earns Historic Emmy Nominations
AppleTV+ series Palm Royale becomes the first show with an all‑female stunt crew nominated in both coordination and performance categories for its catfight scene in episode six.
AppleTV+’s period comedy Palm Royale has broken new ground at this year’s Emmy Awards. The show secured two nominations in the comedy‑programming stunt fields: Mallory Thompson was named for Outstanding Stunt Coordination, while Colby Lemmo and Sonja Wajih earned a nod for Outstanding Stunt Performance. Both nods stem from the same episode – the sixth installment, “Maxine Finds Herself,” which features a tightly choreographed catfight that has drawn industry attention.
The sequence, set in a lavish 1930s ballroom, required a blend of period‑appropriate fighting style and modern safety protocols. Thompson, who leads the series’ stunt department, assembled a crew composed entirely of women to design and execute the fight. “We wanted the physicality to feel authentic to the era while showcasing the strength of the performers,” Thompson explained in a recent interview. Lemmo and Wajih, the two principal stunt performers, spent weeks rehearsing the choreography, incorporating a mix of martial‑arts strikes, period dance moves, and precise timing to protect the surrounding set pieces.
Industry observers note that the dual nominations are unprecedented. While women have long been part of stunt ensembles, this marks the first occasion an all‑female team from a single series has been recognized simultaneously in both coordination and performance categories. The achievement highlights a broader shift toward gender diversity in a field traditionally dominated by men.
The Emmy nods arrive as Palm Royale continues to attract critical praise for its blend of humor, design, and now, stunt work. If the series converts the nominations into wins, it could set a new benchmark for future productions seeking to elevate women’s roles behind the scenes.
Original reporting: Variety.