R.I.P Holly Woodlawn

Actress and transgender icon Holly Woodlawn passed away yesterday at the age of 69.

Woodlawn, one of the famous Andy Warhol’s “superstars’. She met Warhol at a party at the Factory in 1968 and soon became a part of the Warhol entourage and was a regular at legendary nightclub, Max’s Kansas City.

Holly stared in avant-garde director Paul Morrissey’s films Trash (1970) and Women in Revolt (1971), both produced by Warhol. 

Paul Morrisey (left), then (clockwise) Joe Dallesandro, Holly Woodlawn and Jane Forth during the filming of Trash

Holly Woodlawn with Andy Warhol at the Factory

Holly Woodlawn by Jack Mitchell, After Dark Magazine.

Holly’s story was immortalized in Lou Reed’s song “Walk On The Wild Side”.

Holly came from Miami F.L.A.
Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she
She said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side,
Said, hey honey, take a walk on the wild side….

 

 

 

 

Femme Fatale

Halloween is coming.  Here is 10 of my favourite beautiful and deadly on screen female killers and villains.

Nicole Horner and Christina Delassalle in “Les Diabolique” (1955) by Henri-Georges Clouzot

Carol Ledoux in “Repulsion”, 1965 by Roman Polanski

Bonnie Parker in “Bonnie and Clyde”, 1967 by Arthur Penn

Matsu Sasori  in “Female Convict 702: Scorpion”, (1972) by Shunya Ito

Carrie in “Carrie”, 1976 by Brian de Palma

Catherine Tramell in “Basic Instinct”, 1992 by Paul Verhoeven

Hedra Carlson in “Single White Female”, 1992 by Barbet Schroeder

Mallory Knox in “Natural Born Killers”, 1994 by Oliver Stone

Asami Yamazki in “Audition” 1999 by Takashi Miike

Anna in “Martyrs”, 2008 by Pascal Laugier 

Della Reese – Lonelyville

Della Reese – Lonelyville’ – from Let’s Rock 1958

Tindersticks – Put your love in me

From the soundtrack for Les Salauds, 2013

Jared Leto for Candy

Many congratulations to Jared Leto, the well deserved winner of Oscar 2014 for his supporting role as transgender AIDS patient Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club.

Here is Jared Leto posing for the summer issue 2013 of Candy Magazine shot by Terry Richardson.

5 things to do in London this weekend

If you are in London for the weekend,  here are 5 things you should check out!

1. Bailey’s Stardust 

A photography exhibition of over 250 works, personally selected by David Bailey is now showing at National Portrait Gallery . (6 February – 1 June 2014)

Francis Bacon by David Bailey, 1983

Kate Moss by David Beiley, 2013

2.  Gazebo with Richard Fearless (Death in Vegas)

The Horse & Groom (7 February 21:00 – 04:00)

Richard Fearless of Death in Vegas

3. Fishbone pop-up restaurant

A unique fish and seafood take on ‘gourmet fast food’.  Kensington Place, 201 Kensington Church Street, London, W8 (1 February – 29 March)

Fishbone at Kensington Place

4. Dallas Buyers Club

Jean-Marc Vallée’s new film inspired by the true life story of Ron Woodroof.

5. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

A play adapted & directed by Lou Stein, based on Hunter S. Thompson’s novel. Vault festival’s headline show at The Vault.

Hang Me oh Hang Me

The original by Dave van Ronk.

Inside Llewyn Davis

The latest film  from the Coen brothers  was inspired by the memoirs of Dave van Ronk, the folk musician, who was working at bars at Greenwich Village at the same time as Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg.  The film follows a week in the frustrating life of the young folk singer, Llewyn Davis, who is struggling to make his mark.

This film is one of the finest Coen brothers creations. It’s smart, funny and melancholy!

Excellent performance by Oscar Isaac as the hopeless, down  on luck singer.

‘A folk singer with a cat’! The film won’t be the same without Ulysses, the gorgeous ginger cat. 

Llewyn Davis and Ulysses, the ginger cat

Great cast, great performances, as you would expect from Coen Brothers films.   

Roland Turner (played by John Goodman), the jazz musician with a drug addiction and Troy Nelson (played by Stark Sands) are my favorite supporting characters.

John Goodman as Roland Turner

Stark Sands as Troy Nelson

Inside Lleywn Davis is now showing in cinemas across London.