From ‘King Richard’ to US Open: Thea Frodin played Serena’s body double 5 years ago
Seventeen-year-old Thea Frodin is making her U.S. Open singles debut against No. 2-ranked Elena Rybakina after earning a wild card. Before stepping onto the tennis court in New York, Frodin appeared in “King Richard” as Serena Williams’ body double. She says tennis remains her priority, but she would love to balance her career with acting if Hollywood calls again.
Just 17 years old, Thea Frodin is about to take her place on one of the most prominent tennis venues worldwide—her opponent being Elena Rybakina, the No. 2 ranked player in women's tennis. However, Frodin's journey to this point has been anything but ordinary.
Before she made her debut at the U.S. Open, Frodin had already graced the silver screen as a body double. Specifically, she played the role of a young Serena Williams in the 2021 film "King Richard," starring Will Smith. This experience lasted six months, during which Frodin worked alongside prominent Hollywood actors, including the legendary Will Smith himself.
Frodin recalls the experience fondly, saying, "I was on set for six months and I got to be alongside some really cool actors and obviously Will Smith, and just the whole experience was super cool for me."
Despite the excitement of playing a role she greatly admires, Frodin found herself struggling to revert to her own tennis technique after replicating Serena's strokes for so long. She admits, "It’s actually funny. After I was done with with the movie, I actually got into the habit of using, or playing with her strokes, and I couldn’t switch back to mine because I was so used to hers." Her parents, while supportive, noticed this change and had to gently remind Frodin to return to her normal style.
Now, Frodin finds herself at the U.S. Open, making her dreams a reality. She credits her hard work for this achievement, stating, "I’ve worked so hard to try and get to this level, and to have an opportunity like this is just really special for me." Frodin secured her spot at the U.S. Open after winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships and earning a wild card.
While tennis is her primary focus, Frodin hasn't completely ruled out another foray into Hollywood. She muses, "Obviously, my No. 1 focus always has been tennis, but I’ve always had this little thought in the back of my mind. I feel like it would be really cool if I could somehow balance both." Frodin expresses her fondness for the acting environment, saying, "I mean, I loved every second of being in that kind of environment, of that kind of acting life.
I enjoy it a lot and yeah, if it’s even possible, I don’t mind having that as a side gig, you know?"
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
