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While men are often credited with taking extreme risks to gain admiration, daredevilry isn't exclusive to them. Women of all backgrounds have proven equally capable of pushing boundaries and performing awe-inspiring feats, showcasing their courage and skill.
10. Helen Gibson
Helen Gibson is widely recognized as Hollywood's first professional stuntwoman. Raised by a father who encouraged her to embrace traditionally masculine activities, she developed a passion for daring pursuits. Inspired by a Wild West show, she mastered horseback riding, even performing risky maneuvers like picking up a handkerchief at full gallop. She later married a rodeo performer, and together they earned a living by winning races while standing on horseback.
Helen Gibson made her mark in the film industry by starring in Hazards of Helen, a series of short films featuring a resourceful heroine in constant danger. In one memorable scene, she leaped from a train station roof onto the top of a moving train, a stunt she later described as her most perilous. Though she successfully landed, the train's motion nearly threw her off. She saved herself by grabbing an air vent but deliberately hung over the edge to heighten the scene's drama.
In her later years, she transitioned into a career as a stunt double and was celebrated for her contributions to establishing Hollywood as the epicenter of filmmaking. She passed away at the age of 86.
9. May Wirth
May Wirth earned the title of “the greatest bareback rider in the world.” Born to circus performers John and Dezeppo Zinga, she was adopted by Mary Wirth, a renowned equestrian, after her parents separated. Growing up in this environment, May quickly mastered skills like tumbling, balancing, tightrope walking, and contortion, becoming a prodigy by the age of 10.
Her ability to perform a forward somersault on a galloping horse earned her the title of a “real trick rider” and secured her a spot in circus performances. Known as “the fearless American hurricane hurdle rider,” she amazed audiences with feats such as jumping onto the back of a moving horse—while wearing baskets on her feet. Despite sustaining injuries, Wirth continued to perform in circuses worldwide.
May Wirth passed away at 84 and was honored in her home country, Australia, with a commemorative postage stamp.
8. Dorothy Dietrich
Dorothy Dietrich ranks among the world's leading female magicians, renowned for her diverse acts. From daring escape routines to live televised illusions like sawing people in half, she even incorporates unconventional animals like ducks and poodles into her performances.
Her most famous escapology feat involved freeing herself from a straitjacket while suspended hundreds of feet in the air from a crane. She accomplished this without a safety net, with the rope holding her alight on fire. This stunt had been attempted before, but Dietrich remains the only person to successfully complete it. Another groundbreaking act was her performance of the bullet catch, where a live bullet was fired into a metal cup she held in her teeth, making her the first woman to achieve this dangerous trick.
Dietrich continues to perform globally and hosts an annual Houdini Seance every Halloween, aiming to communicate with the legendary magician's spirit on the anniversary of his death. So far, her efforts have not yielded success.
7. Sonora Webster Carver
In the early 20th century, a daring stunt emerged where horses were made to dive from towers as high as 60 feet. Often, riders would guide the horses off the platform. Sonora Webster Carver made history as the first woman to take on this perilous role.
The act was created by William “Doc” Carver, who advertised for “a girl who could swim, dive, and was willing to travel.” Sonora Webster responded and, starting in 1924, rode horses up ramps and plunged into pools as shallow as 12 feet. She later married Doc’s son, becoming part of the family’s daring enterprise.
In 1931, Sonora’s horse, Hot Lips, misjudged the dive, causing both to crash into the water headfirst. The impact severed her retinas, leaving her completely blind. Remarkably, she continued horse diving for another 11 years and lived to the age of 99.
6. Mabel Stark
Mabel Stark made history as the world's first female tiger trainer. Struggling with depression as a young girl, her doctor recommended nursing to lift her spirits. However, during her studies, she frequented the zoo and became captivated by big cats. She eventually abandoned nursing for the circus, starting with horses before befriending and later marrying the circus's big cat trainer.
In 1916, Stark took charge of the tiger act, though she worked with all large felines. Her affection for the animals wasn't always reciprocated, and she suffered numerous injuries. One incident left her unconscious and with a broken arm after a lion attacked her during a performance.
Stark continued performing with big cats until 1968, when retirement became inevitable. Shortly after, one of her tigers escaped and was shot and killed. Devastated by the loss of her tiger and her career, Stark took her own life.
5. Lillian Boyer
In the early days of aviation, merely boarding a plane was a courageous act, given the frequent crashes and fatalities. Yet, humans quickly sought to make flying even more thrilling. Wing-walking, also known as barnstorming, involved climbing out of the plane's safety to perform daring stunts on the wings. Lillian Boyer emerged as one of the most remarkable female wing-walkers of her time.
Lillian Boyer, known as “The Fair Devil of the Air,” earned her reputation through breathtaking stunts. She transferred between planes mid-air, hung by her teeth from ropes, stood on her head atop wings, and rode through loop-the-loops. Despite the constant risk of falling thousands of feet, she claimed to feel no fear. Reflecting on her career, she once said, “I don’t know if I lacked good sense or what.” When questioned about her involvement in such a perilous profession, Boyer responded, “Strength and sharp judgment aren’t defined by gender.”
Boyer retired in 1928 and lived a long life, passing away in 1989.
4. Rosa ‘Zazel’ Richter
Rosa Richter, famously known as Zazel, became the first human cannonball. In 1877, at the London Aquarium, she was propelled over 70 feet into the air by a cannon, astonishing the crowd below. This daring feat served as the grand finale to her otherwise traditional acrobatic performances.
While it appeared she was launched from a cannon, the reality was a clever illusion. The explosion and noise that seemed to propel the 16-year-old into the air were part of the stagecraft. Hidden mechanisms, including ropes and springs inside the “cannon,” provided the force needed to send her safely into the waiting net, where she landed to thunderous applause.
This launching method carried significant risks, such as tangled ropes leading to disaster. Zazel avoided such mishaps but still faced the dangers of her act. Gravity proved unforgiving when she missed the net, resulting in a broken back. Though she survived, her daredevil career came to an end.
3. Annie Edson Taylor
In 1901, Annie Edson Taylor, a Civil War widow, sought fame and fortune by attempting a daring feat: riding over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Her unconventional plan aimed to secure her legacy and financial stability.
On her 63rd birthday, Taylor was secured inside a wooden pickle barrel with a leather harness by two assistants. Her survival plan included selling memorabilia and conducting lecture tours. To increase her chances, the barrel was cushioned, but the endeavor remained perilous. The barrel was towed into the Niagara River and released to plunge over the falls.
Taylor survived the plunge, floating at the base of the falls for 20 minutes before being rescued. Reflecting on her experience, she warned, “Nobody ought ever to do that again. If it were my last breath, I’d advise against attempting such a feat.” Despite her caution, others followed, with five out of 15 attempts ending in tragedy.
Sadly, Taylor never achieved the fame or fortune she desired. Much of her money was spent trying to reclaim her barrel after it was stolen by her manager.
2. Dolly Shepherd
In 1903, Elizabeth “Dolly” Shepherd, a 16-year-old London waitress, caught the attention of Buffalo Bill Cody during his Wild West show tour. After a stunt involving a blindfolded egg shot went awry, Dolly volunteered to replace his wife as the target. Impressed by her courage, Cody introduced her to balloon displays, where, with just 30 minutes of training, she began performing parachute jumps.
Audiences paid to watch Dolly and other young women ascend in balloons and parachute down from thousands of feet. Despite witnessing several fatalities due to underdeveloped parachute technology, Dolly remained fearless. She famously declared she would “go high because if I had to die, I’d want it to be good and proper!”
Dolly pioneered the first tandem parachute jump, but it nearly ended in disaster. During an ascent with another girl, the girl’s parachute failed to detach. Dolly instructed her to cling to her, sharing her parachute. By then, the balloon had risen to 11,000 feet. Both survived the fall, but Dolly was left paralyzed.
Dolly lived a long life, passing away at the age of 96.
1. Maria Spelterini
In 1876, 23-year-old Maria Spelterini made history as the first woman to tightrope walk across Niagara Falls. She repeated this daring feat five times in July alone, balancing on a wire just 2.5 inches wide.
To heighten the drama, Spelterini added challenges to her act. She strapped peach baskets to her feet, crossed with her hands and feet bound, and even walked backward on the wire. Her flamboyant attire and style often drew as much attention as her perilous stunts, according to contemporary reports.
After numerous performances, Spelterini retired from daredevilry. Despite her fame and historical significance, details about her life remain scarce, and the circumstances of her death are unknown.
