Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story
Written By: Margaux Fortier
Jackie Collins was a force of nature and her books reached millions of readers around the world. From her relationship with her sister, Joan, to her book inspirations, Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story sheds light on the life of the influential author. The documentary premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2021 during their hybrid program and viewers could experience the witty gold that was Jackie Collins’ life.
Jackie with daughters Tiffany & Rory, 1980s
From an early age, Jackie Collins tried to create an exciting life for herself. She was always scribbling in journals and writing down her thoughts on her life. As she began writing novels, her words mesmerized and engaged readers. It became clear that she was filling a gap in the market that readers were looking for. The more she wrote, the more demand there was. Finding this voice helped Collins to shine completely on her own and made her comfortable in her own skin.
Jackie in her London flat, 6 Aug 1964
Incorporating interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, the documentary Lady Boss helps to show a full picture of Jackie Collins’ life. Addressing rumors and controversies as well as accomplishments and successes, audiences get the chance to experience her life in a new way. She lived her life her own way but this meant that much of it was kept away from the general public.
Jackie, 1980s in leopard blazer, sepia
Director Laura Fairrie has been fascinated by the life of Jackie Collins since her teen years and jumped at the opportunity to research her life on the big screen. “As a filmmaker I was drawn to her powerful persona and loved the idea of looking behind the public image to find the true story. Talking to Collins’ daughters I discovered a woman who faced adversity, vulnerability, tragedy as well as triumph in her life. I realized she had created an image, modeled on her own fantasy female heroines, and used this persona like a suit of armour. Behind the glamorous and powerful Lady Boss was a woman whose story was relatable, universal, deeply moving and ultimately inspiring. For me, Lady Boss was always going to be a political film. Jackie Collins has often been dismissed as the ‘queen of sleaze’ but this ignores the fact that she consistently wrote female characters that unapologetically demand the careers and lives and sex that they want. Her brand of feminism was about sexual freedom and she wrote about female desire in a way that was bold and ahead of its time. Her books were risqué, they were outrageous and they turned the tables on men. In short, Collins made feminism accessible–she sold over 500 million books and empowered women to imagine a different life for themselves.”
Jackie & Joan promoting The Stud, 26 Sept 1977
Hitting the peak of their popularity in the 1980’s with many film and television adaptations, her books told stories of beautiful women who took their sexuality and lives into their own hands and encouraged the empowerment of women. She created a glamorous life for herself that many admired and aspired to achieve so it was a shock when it was announced, in 2015, that she had passed away in her Beverly Hills home. Jackie lived a guarded life that she desperately tried to keep private and her biggest secret ended up being the cause of her death, a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis. In a final expression of appreciation, a letter to her fans was published posthumously and she encouraged women to be in control of their own health and to get regular check ups.
Jackie Collins encouraged women to act out, speak up, and be themselves. Her legacy will live on and this documentary is helping to make that happen. With a playfulness and candid nature, Laura Fairrie has crafted a work that will fascinate audiences and inspire determination to carry on Jackie Collins’ work.
Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyFMfDVZqhc
Jackie at her Beverly Hills home, 29 July, 1995
Images courtesy of DDA PR
