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 is married to filmmaker Robert Zemeckis.
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.
She has a monthly book column in the Montecito Journal.
Contents
Career
Behind the Burly Q was first begun as a documentary that Zemeckis later adapted into a book.
For Burly Q, Zemeckis went across the country to interview men and women from burlesque shows of the past for her book and documentary. This included gathering over 50 people to interview at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas before it was demolished.
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. 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
