Filipino-Canadian stunt actress is part of Black Panther 2 cast

Vancouver, British Columbia

Maya Macatumpag also stars in car commercial as a Dora Milaje

By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez

Filipino-Canadian stunt actress Maya Macatumpag is excited for the November 11, 2022-release of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever.

She is not only part of the full-time stunt team, she got to be a Dora Milaje, which Marvel describes as an elite group of warriors who serve as the all-female special forces for Wakanda, as well as serving as the Black Panther‘s personal bodyguards.

Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Martin Freeman, and Tenoch Huerta in his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Namor, king of Atlantis.

The Richmond, British Columbia-born performer is the daughter of Ronelio Aaragon Macatumpag, who was born in Baguio City, Philippines and moved to Canada when he was 16. Her mom, Deb, is also a stunt actress.

“I am so proud to be Pinoy. I purposefully kept my last name as part of my stage name in order to always have my Filipino heritage represented in my work,” she told Philippine Canadian News. 

Filipino-Canadian stunt actress Maya Macatumpag (right) and her mother, Deb, during the World Premier of Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Maya and her Filipino dad, Ronelio, in a photo on her Instagram page.

Maya was inspired by her mother who was also a stunt performer.

Her stint in Black Panther 2 also led her to land a role in the newest Lexus car commercial. 

The five-minute ad features General Okoye (played by Danai Gurira) in the RZ 450e as she prepares to fulfill her national duty in the unfamiliar role of public speaker. 

General Okoye is joined by her fellow Dora Milaje as they embark on what becomes a car chase experience filled with spectacular jinks, explosions, and pin-point accurate vibranium spear throws.

“Being a Dora Milaje has impacted me in such a beautiful way and I can’t wait for you all to see what I have been fortunate to be a part of,” she said in a Facebook post. 

Her first project was in the second season of Smallville, a TV series about Superman, when she was eight years old.

She was also in Tooth Fairy, The Day After Tomorrow, Deadpool 2, Supernatural, Deadly Class, Altered Carbon, The 100, Supergirl, Star Trek: Discovery and Van Helsing. 

Maya working in Season 4 of Supergirl. (screen grab from IMDb)

Macatumpag worked and studied at the same time. She played basketball for and obtained a political science degree from Acadia University.

However, she said that being in the Black Panther movie is not only a dream come true but a life achievement for her. 

She admitted that she cried when she first saw the movie because she saw the first real Black superhero.  

“I said that I wanted to be in that movie if they do a second one and it’s crazy how things came in a full circle for me to land a role like this. In this movie, I got to work with a strong, group of amazing, talented, smart Black women every day,” Macatumpag told richmond-news.com.  “Coming from Canada, that’s not a luxury that I’ve been able to have. Usually I’m the minority.”

She admitted that she got the project through her hard work. 

“I worked with Aaron Toney who would be the Fight Coordinator on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on another production called Altered Carbon in Canada a couple years prior. There, he got to see my skills set and it made a lasting impression on him and led to my opportunity on Black Panther as a Dora Milaje and full time stunt team member,” she told PCN.

Asked if she has any upcoming projects, Macatumpag confirmed that she is working on a new one.

“I’m shooting right now but I can’t talk about it,” she teased. 

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