back to interviews

Liz Renay , by Michelle Carr

I had 2 careers in burlesque; as someone in my 20's and someone in my 40's. In fact, I was 47 when I streaked Hollywood and Vine. In 1974, as a publicity stunt I was talked in to streaking down Hollywood Blvd. Little did I know that the whole thing was announced on the radio and as I ran down the street there were thousands of people in the street screaming and cheering, it was like a sporting event! As I was being arrested, I commented to the press "I've often thought that if I was born ugly I could have devoted myself to art and been famous already. It was quite a sensation!"

I got most of my work in Hollywood through my burlesque act. One of the better known pictures was "Peeper", a 20th Century Fox picture starring Michael Caine and Natalie Wood. They asked me if I could twirl the tassels on my pasties and of course I said "Sure!" Well, I never learned how to twirl them and had no idea how I was going to do it. Finally, I thought, well, my breasts are pretty heavy, so why don’t I start low and get them going and then kind of straighten up! It worked and I got the part.

John Waters had read my book and came to see my act when he asked me to do

"Desperate Living." We're still in touch, and as a matter of fact he's trying to get me to an art show at a gallery in New York City, but I just don’t have time to do any new paintings. I'm working so hard on this new book. I just don’t know when I can do it. I'm too attached to any of these paintings to sell them. But when I do get around to doing my paintings for the show, it's going to be called "Nudes and Nude Lovers." I just did an interview for the DVD 25th anniversary edition of Desperate Living.

Recently, I was contacted by Ivy from the group, what is it..."The Cramps?" Have you ever heard of them? Apparently they are very big fans of mine and Well, they want to do some of my songs because I'm also a songwriter. They are coming out here to Vegas to meet me soon. I create lots of sensations, even now! I cannot believe it! I'm even going out with guys that are 1/2 my age!

more on Liz at The Internet Movie Data Base
click to continue