A stunt double to Helena Bonham Carter in the Harry Potter franchise has revealed all in a talk about her career.

Lucy Allen lives near Wanstead Flats in Capel Road, Forest Gate, and has worked as a stuntwoman for over 20 years, having previously worked in the UK circus industry as an aerialist and acrobat. 

She met with members of Wanstead and Woodford's U3A at the Memorial Hall in High Road, South Woodford, this morning after being invited by the group's chair, Maggie Pyne. 

University of the Third Age (U3A) is a movement for retired or semi-retired people who come together and learn new skills, qualifications and share life-changing experiences.   

Ms Allen spoke for an hour on subjects including working on Oscar-winning films such as Braveheart and Titanic and the physical and mental challenges of putting her life on the line. 

She spent five years involved in the Harry Potter franchise, mainly working as a double for Ms Bonham Carter's character Bellatrix Lestrange, who appeared in the final four films. 

Ms Allen said: "I spoke to a packed hall of around 100 people. I usually travel quite far to give these talks so it was very nice to give one locally. 

"I received great feedback with lots of people saying it was a very energetic talk." 

Ms Pyne was shown how safety equipment protects artists from serious injury by strapping on a harness and knee pads.

She also shown Ms Allen's mouthpiece, which helped her set the world record for mouth spins on Roy Castle's Record Breakers on BBC1. 

She was recently been filming in Suffragette, an upcoming British drama film about Marvin Gaye and will appear in Eastenders Christmas special.