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Leslie Zemeckis

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Leslie Zemeckis
Zemeckis at the 2025 San Diego Writers Festival
Born
Leslie Harter

(1969-02-05) February 5, 1969 (age 56)
Occupations
  • Writer
  • film director
  • actress
  • producer
Years active1984–present
Spouse
  • ​
    (m. 2001)​
Children3
Websitelesliezemeckis.com

Leslie Zemeckis (born February 5, 1969) is an American author, documentary filmmaker and actress. She has directed four documentary films including Behind the Burly Q, Bound by Flesh, Mabel Mabel Tiger Trainer, and Grandes Horizontales.[1] She has also written three non-fiction books. Her work focuses on women involved in burlesque, strippers, and the circus.[1] She is married to filmmaker Robert Zemeckis.[2]

She also created and starred in her own burlesque show called "Staar: She'd Rather Be A Mistress",[3] which she adapted into a short mockumentary "Staar: She’s Back and Mistresser Than Ever!” with Carrie Fisher and Fabio.[2]

She has a monthly book column in the Montecito Journal.[4]

Career

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Behind the Burly Q was first begun as a documentary that Zemeckis later adapted into a book.[2]

For Burly Q, Zemeckis went across the country to interview men and women from burlesque shows of the past for her book and documentary.[2][1] This included gathering over 50 people to interview at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas before it was demolished.[2][1]

Zemeckis has written several articles about burlesque and has participated in burlesque shows, including a clothed reading of her book Goddess of Love Incarnate: The Life of Stripteuse Lili St. Cyr accompanied by naked women.[5][2][6] She has also performed as her burlesque alter-ego Staar with the Santa Barbara Symphony.[7]

Zemeckis most recent documentary, Grandes Horizontales, concerns the lives of French courtesans navigating upper-class society in the 19th century.[8]

Awards

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In 2023, she was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.[9][10]

Books

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Zemeckis in 2013
  • Behind the Burly Q (2013)
  • Goddess of Love Incarnate: The Life of Stripteuse Lili St. Cyr (2015)
  • Feuding Fan Dancers: Faith Bacon, Sally Rand, and the Golden Age of the Showgirl (2018)

Filmography

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As director

[edit]

Source:[11]

  • Behind the Burly Q (2010)
  • Bound by Flesh (2012)
  • Mabel Mabel Tiger Trainor (2018)
  • Grandes Horizontales (2022)

As actress

[edit]

Source:[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Meet Leslie Zemeckis". canvasrebel.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Leslie Zemeckis sashays into the history of burlesque". Chicago Tribune. 2013-05-19. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  3. ^ Schwab, Jennifer (2014-03-26). "Leslie Zemeckis, an Unconventional Supermom". HuffPost. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  4. ^ "Leslie Zemeckis, Author at Montecito". Montecito. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  5. ^ Zemeckis, Leslie (2016-12-20). "Viva la Différence". HuffPost. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  6. ^ Kogan, Rick (2016-03-28). "'Naked Girls Reading' adds sensuality to the printed word". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  7. ^ Woodard, Josef (2020-11-06). "Santa Barbara Symphony". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  8. ^ Indy Staff (2024-04-10). "Leslie Zemeckis's Newest Documentary 'Grandes Horizontales' Screens in Exclusive Event". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  9. ^ "EIHS Medalists". medalists.eihonors.org. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  10. ^ The Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS) (May 1, 2023). "Ellis Island Honors Society announces the 2023 Ellis Island Medals of Honor recipients". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  11. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2023-02-08). "Filmmaker Leslie Zemeckis Signs With Buchwald". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  12. ^ "Leslie Zemeckis | Actress, Director, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
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