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| The Original
Vampirella Barbara Leigh, a country girl from Georgia, was fated for fame - and opportunity was knocking at several doors all at once. Perhaps that explains why Leigh, who at 19 packed her bags for L.A.,  divorced and a single mother with a son-in-tow, went on
to become a Playboy pin-up, film-star, comic-book super heroine, and girlfriend
of the rich and famous, including Elvis and Steve McQueen. But, Barbara, unlike most wannabes, didn't arrive in California in search of stardom. Instead, she settled into a job as a nurse, although that didn't last for long. On her first ever night out in a club, the knock-knock of opportunity, that characterized her career, began… B: It was my first experience going clubbing when I went with a group of nurses to the club called 'The Other Place' in Beverly Hills. I never dreamed of meeting anyone, and certainly not the lead singer - Mark Devlin - on-stage. He came over to our table after the show and asked to meet me. Mark was very handsome and sweet which, won me right over. I was flattered that he asked to see me again; I said yes, and gave him my number. He then called me later that night when I got home. He told me that he thought I was wasting my time nursing, that I should model and hired someone to take pictures of me. This led to my modeling career and my first job for Kodak film! T: After a stint with NYC's Ford agency, you moved back to Los Angeles to begin an impressive acting career - which do you prefer: acting or modeling? And is it right that you were 'discovered,' in regards to acting, while at a nightclub again?? Are you the greatest dancer, or what? B: Again, my career started from a meeting in a nightclub called 'The Candy Store' which was owned and run by my then-boyfriend Gene Shacove (the person they wrote 'Shampoo' about. The film starred Warren Beatty). I was sitting there in the club - not dancing - with friends when a man came over to my table and gave me his card, his name was Allan Austin. We made an appointment for that week and that was the beginning of my acting career. When I showed up for our appointment, Allan said that he was actually leaving the company. So, as he wasn't going to be an agent any longer, he wanted to introduce me to Dick Clayton - who was a big agent at that time after signing James Dean. Well, Dick and I immediately connected; he signed me on the spot. I've always preferred acting to modeling; I love all the things that come with making a movie, commercials, etc. T: Did everything happen quickly for you? And how did you know who to trust? B: In those days everything happened so quickly; it had to be fate! It seems that all my young adult life was always in the hands of others. I didn't think about trusting people, I trusted everyone! I later learned that I shouldn't have. T: How did you find your first taste of showbiz? B: My first taste of 'showbiz' was when I was cast in a Coca Cola commercial. I got to ride a camel and played the part of a girl in an Arab's harem who traded me for a Coke. I liked the attention; I felt wanted and needed. That was a young girl's thinking. T: Later, you were seen walking on a beach in Malibu by French director Roger Vadim. Again - spotted by a quirk of Fate? B: I do believe strongly in fate. I was visiting a friend who wanted to take a walk on the beach and as we passed this house, Vadim came running out of it. I thought he was a man trying to hit on me! He introduced himself and then asked if I would test for the part of 'Jean' in a film he was going to direct. I still didn't know who he was, but I saw a chance to get tested for a major movie being produced for MGM called 'Pretty Maids All in A Row,' starring Rock Hudson. I said yes and later got the part as Rock's wife. T: You made that tricky transition from model to actress look easy. What was it like being catapulted further into the Hollywood big league with your next movie - filming with director Sam Peckinpah and actor Steve McQueen? B: Working with Steve and Sam on 'Junior Bonner' was an actress' dream - or at least it was for me! Steve was the boss and there was no getting around that. He might have been the only movie star that ever got his way with Sam. At first, Sam didn't want me for the part, so he cast another actress. She later became ill and dropped out. Then, they replaced her with me; mainly because Steve wanted me. Sam and I later became friends, after he got to know me, and we remained friends until his death. He'd often call me checking to see how I was and sometimes he'd call when he'd had just a wee too much of the hard stuff (laughs). After my part was shot for the film, Sam presented me with a mohair poncho and a bottle of 100% proof Vodka as a going-away present - that was my boy! T: Any amusing on-set tales you can share with us? B: The one story I find funny was the great bar scene in 'Junior Bonner' where everyone gets drunk and into a fight because Steve is dancing with 'Charmagne' (me). Sam lined the bar up with real drinks with the directions to 'let it flow,' which everyone did, and proceeded to get drunk. Well, there was a local Indian man who loved the pretty girls and loved to drink, so Sam decided to get him drunk and send him into the crowd of fighting maniacs. The Indian stole the scene, but when he headed towards me Sam yelled out, 'No not her!' This made Steve crack up - most of us did. That guy had the chance to chase the girls, get drunk and be paid for it; what more could he have asked for? T: What was the infamous Peckinpah like as a person? B: Sam as a person, I feel, was very lonely, drank way too much, and had a complex about being short. Basically, he was a nice man who should have lived in the old Hollywood days of Errol Flynn. He was a buccaneer, a cowboy, anything that was rough, tough, and ready for a fight. I think he was loyal, and one always knew where they stood with Sam Peckinpah. I enjoyed his directing abilities too. He and Steve were a lot like... bad boys. T: That seems to be one of the patterns that run through your life - 'bad boys.' B: I will say this of Steve McQueen; he was a true Rebel and one that I identified with most out of all my boyfriends. But you will have to buy a copy of my new book which covers the real details of our affair. T: In your book, you also write about dating MGM President Jim Aubrey, AKA 'The Smiling Cobra' and 'The Love Machine' - what was the man like behind closed doors? B: He was a powerful man who had a very different background than mine. James was privileged and educated and, out of all the men I've dated, the one that I disliked the most after we broke up. Not because of how he treated me but how he treated his daughter, my dear friend Skye Aubrey and her children. He wasn't the fatherly-type, nor the grandfatherly-type. He was a man's man. He didn't really like women. James died alone and broke. T: Poor old Jim introduced you to the glamour and glitz of Las Vegas, right? B: Vegas - I never understood that town. The only time I did enjoy it was when I visited Elvis because then the glitz of the town shone through. Besides my time there with Elvis; Vegas didn't appeal to me. I'm not a gambler but did/do enjoy the shows. In that respect nothing can compare to Vegas. I prefer a much quieter atmosphere. I am a country girl at heart. T: How did you meet The King? And was it love at first sight? B: When James (Aubrey) took me to see an Elvis show. We got to visit E in his dressing room after the best show that I'd ever seen. It was love at first sight. There hadn't been anyone like Elvis nor to me will there ever be anyone like him. Not only was he the best entertainer and singer of all time but he had so much love to give and to anyone who would listen, he shared his knowledge of The Bible; he loved to teach. T: Elvis loved the good book? B: The bottom line is that he had the love of God in his heart, and by that I mean he had the love of life in his heart because to me that's what God is - love in one's heart for all creatures. T: As someone who really knew Elvis, could you share something insightful about him with us? B: Elvis loved life and basically was a straight forward country boy that just wanted to sing and entertain people. His drug use was something that just happened, as it does to many people who have the burden to carry what he did; the burden of being the best, the burden of staying on top, and the burden of being wanted by so many. He shared his wealth and love more than anyone I've ever known. He loved people and loved his fans. He loved to share the knowledge that he learned from reading, and left the world his pure, beautiful voice and music forever. He is and always will be The King! I feel lucky to have known him and to have shared some precious times together alone. These are memories that no can take away from me and, like my son and mother who have also passed on, I will see him again. T: Reflecting back, how do you feel about the way his fans still worship him today? What would he make of it all? B: The fans will always love him for some of the reasons I've given. I don't think it's out of line to worship something that makes you feel good. To some he's all they have and one must keep their dreams alive. I think he would get a kick out of seeing just how much he is loved (today). I hope people will remember him as he was when he was healthy and focus on the things he left us all; his music, his laughter and his love. T: Your favourite Elvis song? B: My favorite song by Elvis was 'It's Now or Never' but I enjoyed hearing him sing 'First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.' And, in a private time together, we sang while he played the piano in Graceland 'Amazing Grace.' He sang Gospel songs even better than his rock 'n roll songs, like a fine-tuned instrument. He sang with love! T: Who was a better kisser... Elvis or Steve? B: Elvis was the best kisser next to my current boyfriend! He loved to kiss and his mouth was made for kissing (laughs). T: Now, you've had more brushes with fame than the guy who street-sweeps the bronze stars on Hollywood Boulevard, yet your greatest claim to fame must be your turn as sexy female vampire Vampirella. Were you a Hammer Horror fan before? B: I was a Hammer film lover since I first saw 'The Horror of Dracula' starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, whom I both adored. I was nine when I saw the movie and couldn't afford a cross so I slept with a Bible on my back for a month until I got over thinking that Dracula would come for me (laughs). The movie made that much of an impression on me! I later met Christopher Lee when he attended my 30th birthday party. Years later I met Peter Cushing when he was cast to play 'Pendragon' and star opposite me in the original 'Vampirella' movie, produced by Hammer. T: What did you think of the costume - or lack there of it?! B: When I was first interviewed and shown a copy of Vampirella magazine I thought WOW, can I wear  that? And, the answer was, of course I could. I thought
it was, and is, very sexy and that it suited me perfectly. However, the back of the suit barely covered my butt-crack, for lack of a better word, or my breasts. It could be a hard costume to wear, and fight in. I introduced it to a live audience at The Monster Convention in NYC for 5,000 screaming fans. I started with a black cape on, with my back to the audience, then slowly turned to facing them while opening my cape to expose, for the first time, a live model wearing the famous Vampirella costume. They went wild! It was great fun for me. Another dream come true, or so I thought. T: Because your Vampirella movie was never made… B: The only horrible thing that happened to me during the Vampirella-saga was that it didn't get made, and changed my life forever. The project ended when Hammer and Warren Comics couldn't come to an agreement for the merchandising rights to the character. I wanted to die at that time, it broke my heart! I retired shortly after marrying the attorney who later represented me. T: With the success of comic-book heroes like Spider-man today, would you resurrect Vampirella if someone begged you? B: Vampirella HAS been resurrected and is stronger then ever! Julie Strain did portray her and I loved her as Vampirella. Now Vampirella has a new model and I wish her all the very best of luck. I recently signed a contract with Harris Comics which allows me to sell my pictures and trading cards on my web site barbaraleigh.com. I have a lot of respect for Stanley Harris who had the vision to bring her back after many years in retirement; he's my hero. T: So, who would win in a fight: Vampirella or Spider-man? B: I will say that Vampirella would win as she would use her womanly charms and that would win him over. What man could resist her? Could you? T: Today, you appear at autograph conventions, where you show off the original Vampirella costume - what is it like meeting the fans? B: I do attend certain conventions but not a lot because I work for Playboy and it's a full-time job. I will be attending the Chiller Theatre convention in New Jersey in October at Halloween. It's the biggest of its kind, bringing 10,000 people, many wearing Halloween costumes. A most fun time for everyone! T: Did your two celebrity Playboy pictorials help you get a foot in the door? B: At Playboy my title is 'Photo Projects Coordinator' but I'm the assistant to Marilyn Grabowski, Vice President, West Coast Photo Editor. She has been my dear friend since she approached me to do the first PB layout which was titled 'Indian' in May 1973 then later 'Natural Leigh' in January 1977. Marilyn and I have traveled the world together and, as fate would have it, her long time assistant moved to Canada - so here I am. I started in 1997 and love working for Mr. Hefner and his empire of feminine fantasy. T: Would you ever think of posing for Playboy today? B: Thank you but no thank you! My posing for nude pictures days are long gone. However, I did pose for Helmut Newton in 1993. They are quite spectacular but with Helmut one can not use or copy his pictures without consent; and to get his consent is impossible. He's printed my pictures in some of his books and shown them in his art exhibits all over the world. I have many prints that he signed for me and they are fantastic. I also modeled with INXS, the Australian band of Michael Hutchence's, who died recently in a horrible way. I did four covers for their albums, and one is The Last Supper, where I portray Mary Magdalene and Michael portrayed Jesus. T: Besides your job at Playboy, on your website, you talk a little about your animal rescue and AIDS charity work... B: Well, I no longer do volunteer work with AIDS because it brings up too much heartache for me losing my son that way. I do animal rescue and feed the homeless animals on a daily basis. If I ever won the lottery, I would start an animal farm for rescued, abandoned and mistreated animals. This started with the love I had for my Persian cat Bear, who passed on last year. I miss him so much! I used to say "who do you love?" and he would give me a kiss. That is rare for a cat. T: Barbara, may I say, you have had such an exciting and jet-setting lifestyle. Nevertheless, life has also thrown you a few curve balls. How do you cope with the lows, as well as the highs? B: I have had my share of family tragedies. To me the answer is: if you have love in your heart then you can be or live or do anything and come out okay - even if you are poor. One sometimes doesn't learn this until they're older and wiser in life. In my case, I understood this when I finally matured (laughs). I'm one of the 'late ones.' Barbara's book "The King, McQueen and The Love Machine" is out now and may be ordered from her directly (PO Box 246, Los Angeles, CA 90028-0246), which is also where you can send any fan-mail, or through www.Xlibris.com/bookstore. She says, "If anyone buys it through Xlibris they can always send it to me along with postage and I will sign it and send it back." Ms Leigh will be appearing with her Vampirella costume at the Chiller Theatre convention on October 26, 2002. For more details and updates on everything Leigh, check out her site www.barbaraleigh.com Interview by Toby Osborne |
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