She was the first woman to kayak the Amazon river solo and she has walked a tightrope across Battersea Power Station and completed a 78-mile ultra-marathon.
Then, four years ago, TV presenter Helen Skelton became a mum and thought her days as an action woman were behind her.
As she settled into the very different challenge of looking after sons Ernie, four, and Louis, three, the Countryfile presenter and former Blue Peter star, 36, admits she stopped thinking of herself as a “badass”.
But fans of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins have seen Helen remains full of courage, determination and endurance.
Her quiet composure helped her beat six other celebs to make it to the final with soap star Nikki Sanderson, ex-boxer Tony Bellew, Paralympian Lauren Steadman, TOWIE’s Joey Essex and Rudimental DJ Locksmith.
“Well, ‘just getting on with it’ is what women do, isn’t it?” she smiles.
“I think before you have kids, you can do what you want, go where you want. Now I have two kids, I’m in a different phase of my life.
“Everything I do is based around the boys and that’s how it should be... and it’s how I like it.
“But this was a chance for me to be like, OK, Mummy’s badass!
“Nobody wants to go to work and leave the kids but at least if I had to do it then it was for something cool.”
Helen’s courage on the Channel 4 show has earned her respect from her whole family.
She says: “I ’ve shown [my kids] little bits of the show and they do love it. My little boy, ages ago, saw a girl on a rollercoaster and he said, ‘She’s brave like you, Mummy’.
This story is from the May 25, 2020 edition of Daily Mirror.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 25, 2020 edition of Daily Mirror.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
NORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW
A fjord fiesta is on the cards as Odegaard does the great title showdown... and Burnley star Berge
BEN HURT
Chilwell back from England duty with new injury & Poch admits: I'm surprised he started both games
BEE PREPARED
United know they face a tough return to Brentford where they were famously outrun and outfought
FARKE: FOXES STILL IN THE LEED
Boss Daniel insists Leicester are favourites for title glory
YUMMY MOMI TAMES TIGERS
Aussie star Paul finally comes good for the Rhinos
175 pints? That's a LOT of armfuls
Blood donor hits massive target but is not done yet
I'm still angry about the death of our daughter..I've never found peace
Barlow lays bare anguish over loss of stillborn baby in 2012
PUTIN'S PUPPETS
British mercenaries fighting in Ukraine lauded by Kremlin propaganda machine
MAN, 19, HELD AFTER TRAIN STAB HORROR
Masked suspect filmed knifing passenger
ARREST AFTER DEATH OF GOGGLEBOX STAR
Man in 40s faces manslaughter quiz