Striptease Goddess Lili St. Cyr Explored with Leslie Zemeckis

Guest Bio

Leslie Zemeckis is an actress, writer and award-winning documentarian. Leslie co-wrote Staar a one-woman cabaret show which was the origin for the mockumentary she wrote and produced entitled Staar: She’d Rather be a Mistress starring Carrie Fisher, Jeffrey Tambor and Fabio. Leslie also wrote, produced and directed the critically acclaimed documentary Behind the Burly Q, the true story of old-time burlesque in America. The film aired on Showtime and was championed by such publications as USA Today and The New Yorker revealing the never-before told stories of the men and women who worked in burlesque during its Golden Age.
As a writer she has contributed to Stork Magazine and the Huffington Post.
Leslie’s latest film as writer/producer/director is the award-winning documentary Bound by Flesh about Siamese twin superstars Daisy and Violet Hilton. The film played to sold-out audiences at the prestigious Palm Springs International, Santa Barbara International and Chicago Film Festivals. Leslie once again chronicles an important part of American entertainment from a bygone era, delving into the world of circus and carnival life in the early part of the 20th Century.
Her book Behind the Burly Q was published by Skyhorse in June 2013. It is the definitive oral history of burlesque as told by the original stars themselves. Her current book Goddess of Love Incarnate (The Life of Stripteause Lili St. Cyr) will be published Fall of 2015 by Counterpoint Press. She is currently finishing up filming her next documentary on the circus.