PREMIERING JULY 24 ON APPLE TV +, THE MOVIE " THE DINK " STARS JAKE JOHNSON, BEN STILLER AND MARY STEENBURGEN.
build the sport, Bellamy has won more than 40 professional gold medals and now competes in the Champions Series, a league she helped establish. She served as Steenburgen’ s pickleball coach and body double throughout production.
Bellamy was brought onto the project by pickleball consultants Brad and Kim Gilbert.
“ I practiced a bit with Mary, but honestly she is already a very good player and quite capable,” Bellamy said.“ She truly didn’ t need much coaching. She kept getting better and better so quickly.”
Beyond working with Steenburgen, Bellamy spent time rallying with director Josh Greenbaum, writer Sean Clements and several of the other pickleball doubles between takes.
“ The set was certainly professional, but also super-casual and fun,” she said.“ There was a lot of laughter.”
Bellamy added that watching Steenburgen embrace the sport was one of the highlights of the experience.
“ I could see how Mary really loved playing pickleball and how she was very dedicated to honing her skills to do her best in the movie. She was super-coachable and easy to work with. She made the experience absolutely delightful.”
For Bellamy,“ The Dink” marked her second-consecutive Hollywood pickleball production. Just a month earlier, she had served as the pickleball body double for the late Catherine O’ Hara during Michelob Ultra’ s memorable Super Bowl commercial featuring Hunter Johnson, Parris Todd and Willem Dafoe.
Now Bellamy is looking forward to celebrating“ The Dink” alongside many of the people who helped bring it to life.
“ I’ m going to the L. A. premiere along with my son Roscoe, and some other pros,” she said.“ I am superexcited to finally see the movie.”
More than anything, Bellamy hopes the film introduces millions of new viewers to the sport that has transformed her life.
“ I hope that it brings additional awareness about pickleball and shows what a fun sport it can be for anyone who wants to try it.” •
JULY 2026 | MAGAZINE 13