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Leslie Zemeckis

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Leslie Zemeckis
Zemeckis in 2025
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 5 February 1969) is an 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, sex work 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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