Following the release of Christopher Nolan's film 'Odyssey' in cinemas, which attracted attention due to its massive sets, IMAX scale, and acting performances, the public discussed many aspects of the movie. However, one unexpected moment drew particular attention—a woman stunt double, 4 feet 6 inches tall, who performed some action scenes for Matt Damon, including the battle against the man-eating Laertagonians.
Later, Matt Damon mentioned her on a podcast, noting that his double was 'a stunt actress with the most amazing hands I have ever seen.' He explained that during filming, very tall actors were used on one side of the frame and much shorter ones on the other, with Dalton serving as the double in the Odyssey scenes. This led to Dalton gaining worldwide fame.
Perhaps part of the interest stems from the image of a woman replacing one of Hollywood's most famous actors. Nevertheless, Dalton expresses hope that the discussion about her work will not be limited to virality. The Canadian actress and stunt performer told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview that many men build careers being recognized for their strength, leading her to ask: 'Why shouldn't women?'
In her detailed interview, Dalton shares her dreams of acting, working on Christopher Nolan's film, and why strength is not dependent on gender. She recalls always having a rich imagination and loving to create characters for her family, which sparked her love for artistry.
Her transition to professional acting and stunts began after she was a professional dancer and theatre actor, before moving into film and television, starting her career at the age of nine. She emphasizes that she never wanted to be confined to one field, considering all of it a form of performance.
When she was told that Matt Damon had spoken about her on a podcast, she was asleep because she was filming in New Zealand, and her phone started ringing at 4 AM due to the time difference. Instead of discovering the issue, she learned that her biceps had gone viral, which was not in her plans.
For her, public recognition of her work by such a kind and generous person as Matt was hugely significant. She admits that she trained for years based on job requirements rather than expecting international fame for her hands, but she is ready to accept this recognition.
Filming in Scotland was an unforgettable experience, and she enjoyed the role of a Greek warrior. At the same time, she noted the incredible scale of the production. When asked about the visual balance between herself (4'6") and Damon (5'10"), she reminded them that very tall actors were used for the Laertagonians and actors of her height for Odysseus and his people.
Regarding the difficulties associated with large-scale production, she speaks about the need for constant physical and mental readiness, as well as the ability to adapt at any moment, which requires years of preparation.
Although it is still relatively rare for women to play doubles for male lead actors, she notes that many talented female stunt actresses are working today. According to SAG-AFTRA, women make up just over 20 percent of stunt performers. In her opinion, the main barrier is gaining trust within the industry.
Dalton also shares that she is often underestimated because of her small stature, not because she is a woman. However, she asserts that her work speaks for itself, and she is proud to have forged her own path.
For her future plans, she hopes to take on leading roles that utilize her entire skill set, including acting, movement work, creature creation, physical performance, and voice acting. If a project brought her to Dubai, she would want to explore it like the locals do, appreciating the blend of innovation and culture.
National Media Group (NMG) has ignored negative press coverage and media attention, stating that it will not allow this to distract it from its mission to create a modern, commercially viable, and sustainable media organization in South Africa.
This statement followed publications in competing outlets, including the Daily Maverick. NMG asserts that these publications attempted to undermine the company's launch through 'speculation, ambiguity, and disinformation,' rather than relying on balanced, fact-based journalism.
In a statement released on Thursday, NMG emphasized that it does not intend to get entangled in industry competition or predetermined negative narratives. Instead, the organization is focusing its efforts on expanding media diversity, creating jobs, and providing high-quality news to South Africans.
NMG firmly defended its legitimate commercial decisions and hiring processes, noting that it is not obligated to justify itself to competing media companies. The group stated: 'We are not obliged to justify our legitimate commercial decisions, hiring processes, or business strategy to competing media companies. Our responsibility lies with our readers, advertisers, and employees.'
The organization added that NMG is fully funded, strategically positioned for growth, and supported by investors who believe in the future of quality journalism in South Africa. Its focus is on building a sustainable, commercially oriented media company that serves the public interest, expands media diversity, and creates significant sector employment. The company will not allow itself to be distracted by campaigns aimed at diminishing this vision.
Furthermore, the group called on the Daily Maverick to concentrate on its own editorial resources and newsroom standards instead of trying to weaken new competitors through conjecture.
While many traditional media companies across South Africa are cutting editorial investments, laying off staff, and reducing newsroom capacity, NMG has demonstrated the opposite approach by actively investing in the local media landscape.
During a two-month recruitment drive, hundreds of applications were received for publicly advertised positions in editorial, management, and specialized fields. The group confirmed that appointments were made through a merit-based competitive process, bringing together experienced journalists, editors, and digital specialists from across the country. Additional appointments are expected to be announced in the coming months as current professional contractual obligations conclude.
NMG presented this aggressive hiring campaign as a strong sign of confidence in the future of South African journalism.
NMG stressed that its vision is based on an experienced executive leadership team focused on editorial excellence, diversity, and long-term commercial transformation:
Affirming its commitment to editorial integrity, NMG stated that its journalists will conduct accurate, balanced, and fearless investigations without fear or favoritism, measuring their ultimate success by audience trust and the quality of their journalism.
The question of whether Shah Jahan ordered workers to have their hands amputated after the construction of the Taj Mahal remains a subject of debate. The poetry of the poet Jamil Malik recalls the labor of thousands of craftsmen who created this masterpiece, which is today recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World for its beauty, art, and unparalleled craftsmanship.
There is a common story that Shah Jahan ordered the hands of the artisans to be cut off so they could not build similar structures again. However, historians argue that there is no evidence of this claim in historical sources.
According to historians, neither Muslim documents, official records of the time, nor descriptions by European travelers such as Jean-Baptiste Tavernier and François Bernier mention that Shah Jahan ordered the amputation of the hands of the artisans involved in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
Professor Syed Ali Nadeem Rizvi, former chairman of the Faculty of History at Aligarh Muslim University and a specialist in medieval history, noted that if anyone wanted to stop the construction, it would concern the architect, not the laborers, since the architect develops the design. The workers merely carry out the work according to this project.
He also reported that wages continued to be paid to the workers after the completion of the Taj Mahal, and there are documents confirming these payments. Today, the descendants of these masters are connected to traditional crafts in the Tajganj area of Agra.
Historians point out that after the construction of the Taj Mahal, many artisans continued to work on other projects in the Mughal Empire, including buildings such as Shahjahabad (Old Delhi), the Red Fort, and the Jama Masjid. Therefore, the story of hand amputation does not align with available historical data.
The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Construction took place from 1632 to 1653 and required the participation of about 20,000 workers and craftsmen. The use of marble, inlay with precious stones, and fine carving made it one of the world's most famous buildings.
According to the BBC, a significant number of workers came from the region of Kannauj, while stonemasons, stone carvers, carpenters, painters, and other skilled artisans were invited not only from different parts of the Mughal Empire but also from Central Asia and Iran.
Historian Abba Koch, a recognized leading expert in Mughal architecture, explains this story as a 'Guides' Tale,' meaning a folk legend told by tourist guides. According to him, such stories are associated with many historical monuments around the world.
Historian S. Irfan Habib believes that this story became popular especially in the 1960s. He emphasizes that there is no credible historical evidence to support this claim, and no authoritative historian has accepted it as fact.
Thus, existing historical documents, modern descriptions, and scholarly research do not confirm that Shah Jahan ordered the hands of the artisans who built the Taj Mahal to be cut off; therefore, it is considered a popular myth rather than an established historical event. The main value of the Taj Mahal lies not in a cruel story, but in the art, labor, and skill of the thousands of artisans who included it among the most beautiful buildings in the world.
In recent years, great importance has been placed on preparing quality content for children in the country, including special attention to the national spirit.
