Lexi Alexander

Lexi Alexander, born Alexandra Mirai on 23 August 1974 in Mannheim, West Germany, is a German‑Palestinian‑American director, filmmaker, martial artist and stunt performer whose career spans more than two decades. Raised by a German mother and a Palestinian father who hailed from Ramallah, she grew up immersed in the passionate football culture of her hometown, even joining the local hooligan group Mannheim City Boys as a teenager—a experience that later inspired her breakthrough feature Green Street Hooligans. From an early age she pursued martial arts, beginning judo at eight, moving to Shotokan karate at fourteen, and ultimately achieving a third‑degree black belt while winning multiple German and European championships in point‑fighting and kickboxing; at nineteen she claimed the World Kickboxing Association world title in Atlantic City before retiring to move to the United States with the encouragement of Chuck Norris. In Hollywood she first worked as a stunt person, performing high‑impact fights, motorcycle stunts and precision driving, and even instructing the United States Marine Corps in unarmed combat. Her transition to directing began with intensive study at Joanne Baron's acting school and UCLA extension courses, culminating in the self‑financed short Johnny Flynton, which earned an Academy Award nomination in 2003. Alexander’s feature debut Green Street (2005) garnered both the Jury and Audience Awards at SXSW, cementing her reputation for gritty, character‑driven storytelling. She made history in 2008 as the first woman to direct a Marvel adaptation with Punisher: War Zone, a film that initially flopped but has since achieved cult status. Beyond film, she has directed television episodes for series such as Arrow, Supergirl, Limitless and Taken, and has become a vocal advocate for gender parity and Palestinian rights, frequently challenging industry sexism and championing diverse representation. Her work continues to reflect a blend of martial discipline, cinematic vision, and activist commitment, making her a distinctive voice in contemporary cinema.