Dave Bautista body double opens up on mental health struggles
Jason Burrill, the Dave Bautista body double who worked on Guardians of the Galaxy and James Bond's Spectre, says he barely remembers filming those blockbuster shoots due to mental health struggles. The Big Brother 2016 winner told BBC Radio Sussex that years of hiding behind a "brick wall facade" left him emotionally shut down. His candid remarks show how even blockbuster film crews can battle invisible anxiety behind the scenes.
Key Takeaways
- Jason Burrill stood in for Dave Bautista on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2012) and the James Bond film Spectre (2014).
- He told BBC Radio Sussex he does not remember much of six months of shoots, including time in Austria.
- Burrill, who won Big Brother in 2016, said he built a "brick wall facade" and grew "big and strong" to keep people at a distance.
- He credited wider mental health conversations with helping him recognize "something wasn't right" and learn to say "no more."
Who Is Jason Burrill and How Did He Become a Dave Bautista Body Double?
Jason Burrill is from Seaford, East Sussex, having moved from London when he was seven. His unlikely Hollywood career started after strangers mistook him for Dave Bautista while he was on holiday in Portugal.
Unknown calls followed, and Burrill was eventually called into a studio to meet Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, Chris Pratt, and Bautista himself. He was chosen as a stand-in and body double for the 2012 Marvel film.
Following that film's success, Burrill returned to work alongside Bautista on Spectre in 2014.
What Did Burrill Say About His Mental Health?
In an interview with BBC Radio Sussex, Burrill opened up about struggling with anxiety while maintaining a tough exterior. "I grew myself big and strong to keep people at a distance," he said.
Burrill explained that as mental health became more widely discussed, he felt a "knock-on effect" and realized something was wrong. He said breaking down his facade helped him understand his anxieties.
One striking admission: "I don't remember filming James Bond or Marvel. There's six months of shoots in places like Austria, and I remember bits, but not so much."
Since opening up, Burrill said he has "learned to say 'no more'" and believes telling friends about problems is part of an ongoing "learning curve."
Why Does Dave Bautista's Hollywood Path Still Matter?
While Burrill shared his deeply personal story, Dave Bautista continues to inspire others in wrestling and entertainment. WWE star Damian Priest recently told Chris D Comedy that Bautista's transition from WWE to acclaimed acting at a similar age has shaped his own post-wrestling ambitions.
Priest said he would consider Hollywood only after his in-ring career ends, much like Bautista did. "The first one that comes to mind is Dave Batista who's a big actor now," Priest said, according to Yahoo Entertainment.
Burrill's candid interview adds another layer to the Bautista orbit, showing that even those who work beside major stars can face invisible battles backstage.
For more on celebrity health and entertainment news, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage. The BBC published Burrill's full remarks in its original report.