Leslie Zemeckis

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. She has also written three non-fiction books. Her work focuses on women involved in burlesque, strippers, and the circus.

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

Career Behind the Burly Q was first begun as a documentary that Zemeckis later adapted into a book. She has also performed as her burlesque alter-ego Staar with the Santa Barbara Symphony.

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

Awards In 2023, she was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Books

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 As director Source: Behind the Burly Q (2010) Bound by Flesh (2012) Mabel Mabel Tiger Trainor (2018) Grandes Horizontales (2022)

As actress Source: 1992: Silk Stalkings (TV series): Cynthia Ashmore 1993: Beverly Hills, 90210 (TV series): Party Girl 1993: Ground Zero: Texas (video game): DiSalvo 1994: Jailbait: Roman's Girlfriend 1996: Damien's Seed: Jane Janzen 1996: Encounters: Diane 1997: Women: Stories of Passion (TV series): Emily 1998: Beverly Hills Bordello (TV series): Melissa / Amanda 1998: Confessions of a Call Girl: Reese 1998: I Married a Monster (TV movie): Bridesmaid #2 1998: Intimate Sessions (TV series) 1998: Life of a Gigolo: Rhonda 1998: Sex Files: Pleasure World: Sara 1998: Sex Files: Restless Souls: Heather 1998: The Sexperiment: Audrey / Marcie 1999: Caroline in the City (TV series): Kelly 1999: Dark Nova: Nova 1999: Deterrence: Sylvia Charles 2000: Blowback: Sandra Carlow 2000: Sacrifice (TV movie): Officer Mercedes Calderon 2000: Spiders: Emma 2004: The Polar Express: Sarah / Mother 2005: Terrible Children: Finnie 2007: Beowulf: Yrsa 2008: Prego (short film): Lisa 2009: A Christmas Carol: Fred's wife 2018: Welcome to Marwen: Suzette 2019: From Zero to I Love You: Pamela Finley-Logsdon 2024: Here: Elizabeth Franklin