Mary Elizabeth Ellis, 46, has found her new life passion in kickboxing — and it’s all about fun stunt work with her friend Kendra Smith. She’s not just chasing fitness; she’s embracing a new chapter of self-discovery, mirroring her character Emily in Netflix’s A Man on the Inside.
Mary Elizabeth Ellis, 46, has found her new life passion in kickboxing — and it’s all about fun stunt work with her friend Kendra Smith. She’s not just chasing fitness; she’s embracing a new chapter of self-discovery, mirroring her character Emily in Netflix’s A Man on the Inside.
Speaking with PEOPLE at the Paley Center in New York City, Ellis revealed that her character Emily, played by her on the Netflix series, is “finding her new passion in life, which is nice because I think that’s important, especially as a woman in her 40s.”
“It’s like, who am I? What am I still into? And for me it’s kickboxing,” she said. “I do kickboxing with my friend Kendra Smith, who also did stunts. So, we do a lot of fun stunt things.”
Ellis shared that she began kickboxing “about 5 or 6 years ago.”
“I probably think I’m better at stunts than I actually am, but I enjoy it,” Ellis said, adding that the activity allows her to “feel tough all the time.”
She also reflected on the emotional arc of Emily’s journey on the show. “Season 1 was really about her taking care of her dad. He lost his partner that he had been with forever, and she was really concerned that her dad lost himself in that.”
“In season 2, she starts to look at herself a little bit more in her own grief, like what she’s going through, and so I get to work on healing myself a little bit more in the season,” she added.
The comedy’s second season, which premiered Nov. 20, follows Charles as he is assigned with helping Wheeler College president Jack Berenger (Max Greenfield) crack a case and must go undercover as a college professor.
The cast also includes Mary Steenburgen, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Stephanie Beatriz, Gary Cole, Michaela Conlin, Lisa Gilroy, Madison Hu, Sam Huntington, Jason Mantzoukas, Constance Marie, Linda Park, David Strathairn and Jill Talley.
Danson also told PEOPLE about the hobby he picked up later in life. “I picked up a new hobby of doing a podcast with my friend Woody Harrelson,” he says, referring to his podcast Everybody Knows Your Name. “We’ve done about 150 episodes. I really enjoy talking to people that I wouldn’t have had the nerve to go talk to at a party or whatever.”
Ellis’s journey into kickboxing is more than just a fitness trend — it’s a personal and professional evolution. Her dedication to stunt work, combined with her role in a show that explores emotional growth, shows how she’s channeling her real-life passion into her art.
As fans of A Man on the Inside know, Emily’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and healing. Ellis’s real-life dedication to kickboxing and stunt work mirrors that journey — a testament to how the character’s arc resonates with her own life.
For fans, Ellis’s passion for kickboxing and stunt work isn’t just a fun side note — it’s a powerful symbol of empowerment. As a woman in her 40s, she’s proving that reinvention is never too late, and that passion can be found in unexpected places — like a kickboxing studio or a stunt choreography session.
Her openness about this chapter of her life, coupled with her role in a critically acclaimed series, makes her one of the most relatable and inspiring figures in modern television. Whether she’s on set or in the ring, Ellis continues to show that passion, purpose, and physical strength are not mutually exclusive — they’re complementary.
For those who follow her, Ellis’s kickboxing journey is more than just a hobby — it’s a celebration of her strength, resilience, and the joy of finding new passions in life. And for fans of A Man on the Inside, it’s a reminder that Emily’s journey is not just a TV story — it’s a reflection of real life.
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