Leslie Zemeckis

Last updated
Leslie Zemeckis
Leslie Zemeckis at San Diego Writers Festival 2025 01 (cropped).jpg
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
Website lesliezemeckis.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]

Contents

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

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

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

Books

Zemeckis in 2013 Leslie Zemeckis 2013.jpg
Zemeckis in 2013

Filmography

As director

Source: [11]

As actress

Source: [12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Meet Leslie Zemeckis". canvasrebel.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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.