Holly Woodlawn (1946-2015) is an actress and transgender icon whose impact spanned decades. Typically, pop artist Andy Warhol gave different artists and performers their fifteen minutes of fame through his experimental films and avant garde party scene. But this star’s legacy persisted long after she first graced the screen.
Holly Woodlawn (1946-2015) is an actress and transgender icon whose impact spanned decades. Typically, pop artist Andy Warhol gave different artists and performers their fifteen minutes of fame through his experimental films and avant garde party scene. But this star’s legacy persisted long after she first graced the screen.
Special thanks to our exclusive Pride Month sponsor, Mercedes-Benz! Mercedes-Benz continues to support and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community. Listen all month long as we celebrate women whose authentic expression in their lives and bodies of work have expanded the norms of gender and sexuality in the performing arts.
History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Liz Smith, Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Ale Tejeda, Sara Schleede, and Alex Jhamb Burns. Special thanks to Shira Atkins.
Original theme music composed by Miles Moran.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m director and entertainer Raven-Symoné, and this is Womanica.
I’m so excited to be one of your guest hosts for the final week of Womanica this Pride month. This month, Womanica is highling queer stars of the stage and screen.
Today’s actress and transgender icon’s impact spanned decades. Typically, pop artist Andy Warhol gave different artists and performers their fifteen minutes of fame through his experimental films and avant garde party scene. But this star’s legacy persisted long after she first graced the screen.
Please welcome Holly Woodlawn.
Holly was born in 1946 in Puerto Rico. She lived there during her early years before moving with her family to Miami Beach, Florida. By the time she was 15, Holly was more interested in partying than finishing school. So, she left home and hitchhiked to New York City. And she adopted a new name: Holly, after Holly Golightly from the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She wanted to be famous.
When she first got to New York, she lived on the streets, and struggled with drugs. But eventually, some friends took her in. She started taking hormones, and began working as a model at the clothing store Saks Fifth Avenue. She also met and fell in love with a man and lived as his wife for years.
Holly never meant to be a Warhol superstar. She just fell into it, after meeting the artist after a film screening at his studio, known as The Factory. Holly gradually became a part of Warhol’s famous entourage of actors, artists, and musicians. The clique was a fixture of the New York nightlife and art scene in the 1960s and ‘70s.
Holly later told The Guardian: “I was very happy when I gradually became a Warhol superstar. I felt like Elizabeth Taylor! Little did I realize that not only would there be no money, but that your star would flicker for two seconds and that was it. But it was worth it, the drugs, the parties, it was fabulous.”
In 1970, Holly starred in the film Trash. She played a garbage picker, with a boyfriend who’s addicted to heroin. The duo tries to get on welfare and clean up their lives.
The director was Warhol’s manager Paul Morrisey. He was known for presenting the storyline to actors just before filming. But Holly had a knack for improvisation. Her performance earned the attention of Oscar-winning director George Cukor [KOO-ker], who started a petition to have her included in the Best Actress category for that year’s awards. Nothing came of it.
Holly starred in Women in Revolt in 1971, alongside fellow Warhol superstars and transgender actresses Candy Darling and Jackie Curtis. The film, also directed by Paul Morrisey and produced by Warhol, satirizes the Women’s Liberation Movement.
Though Warhol never spoke to Holly on set, she was a part of his orbit. And, that made her a star. In 1972, Lou Reed wrote her story into the song “Take a Walk on the Wild Side.”
Stardom did not lead to financial success for Holly. Eventually, she moved back in with her family in Miami for several years before returning to New York and working as a club singer.
In 1987, Andy Warhol died. Soon after that, Holly moved to Los Angeles and often spoke about him and The Factory arts scene in interviews. In 1991, Holly released an autobiography, called A Low Life in High Heels. She continued working as a cabaret singer and actress in independent films throughout the 90s and 2000s. In 2014, she appeared in a few episodes of the series Transparent.
In June 2015, she was admitted to the hospital with an unknown illness. It turned out to be brain and liver cancer.
Holly aspired to leave the world a safer place for queer and transgender people, as well as anyone else who has ever felt like an outsider. She passed away December 6, 2015 in Los Angeles. Per her final wishes, her estate established the Holly Woodlawn Memorial Fund for Transgender Youth to help at-risk teens.
All month, we’re highlighting queer stars of the stage and screen. For more information find us on Facebook and Instagram @womanicapodcast.
Special thanks to creators Jenny and Liz Kaplan for inviting me to guest host.
Talk to you tomorrow!