This six foot, one inch, statuesque actress is a one-woman industry.
Main Product:> Julie Strain
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Julie Strain reinvented herself at the age of 28 and has since been merchandised
on everything from a Zippo lighterto an interactive CD-ROM...and it is all carefully
orchestrated and planned, originally by Julie, but now by Julie in
tandem with her husband, publisher, producer and co-creator of the
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kevin Eastman.
Together, they have positioned Julie as the "Queen of All Media".
She is a genuine cult heroine. Her series of action/adventure and fantasy movies
have earned her a fan base that many mainstream stars envy. Julie has been
featured on television, in music videos and laser disc. She is a star attraction of
calendars, posters and greeting cards. In the "Strain-mania" merchandise world,
she can be found on coffee mugs, dolls, watches and countless trading cards.
She retains a major appeal for art directors and editors of magazines who want
the Strain face and form for covers and layouts in everything from Penthouse
to Femme Fatales, from Vogue to Cosmopolitan, from Natural Body Building to
American Rodder. Julie has even taught fine art and photography class at U.C.L.A.
Julie's current endeavors are as the main character in the Columbia/Tri-Star
$15 million animated feature, Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.2, and she has co-produced
and starred in the art house, Irish family dramatic comedy, St. Patrick's Day.
("One of the first films I didn't have to head-butt anyone in!" she laughs.
Julie can also currently be seen as Judge Julie on Playboy TV's Sex Court.
She also has quickly become the photographer of choice for models, Playmates
and adult entertainers for their websites.
All in all, an impressive career for a woman who had to sleep in her truck when
she first arrived in Hollywood and who admits to being a "painfully thin ugly
duckling" in high school.
How did it happen? "I chose to shoot for Penthouse and with the seed money
and the "Pet of the Year" title, I started my own business...me", she states.
"I just had a one hundred percent commitment to success and no regard at all
for the "rules" of show business. I talked my way into auditions and took every
role I was offered, working to develop my acting skills and a screen image that
I hoped would appeal."
One of her first movies was Repossessed with Leslie Nielsen and Linda Blair.
She says, "I had two scenes, was paid $100 and had a trailer with my name
on the door. It was the Big Time!" She did extra work on Bugsy and The Doors,
to name only a couple, as well as a body double for Geena Davis in Thelma
and Louise. She laughs, "However, Geena started feeling comfortable with the
love scenes with Brad Pitt, so I was paid but never used!"
Julie Strain grew up in Concord, California. At age 13, she was already six feet
tall and an outstanding athlete, but finding adolescence difficult. "I was a wild kid,"
she admits. "Always in trouble of one sort or another."
Her first boyfriend after high school was a body builder and, through him, she
began to develop the physique that has won her the respect and admiration
she has today. To his credit, he also insisted that Julie attend college.
She earned an AA degree, with honors. Julie had a short body building career...
Then Julie Strain lost her past.
It was the result of an accident. Animal-lover Julie was riding her horse when
it was spooked. Julie sustained head injuries that left her with amnesia and very
few clear memories of her past life. Taking some time to recover and travel, while
in Las Vegas attending a championship fight, Julie was spotted by several
entertainment industry executives who showed enough "real" interest for
Julie to travel to Los Angeles.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Premier Magazine, observing her list of credits in movies such as Fit to Kill,
Dark Secrets, Day of the Warriors and Sorceress, to name a few, proclaimed
her officially "Queen of the B Movies". Julie says, "They are straight forward
action/adventure/horror/fantasy and often go straight to pay channels and
home video. As my favorite director, Andy Sidaris, says, 'Let's go...bring on the
babes, guns and dynamite...we're a thousand shots behind!'
They are popular and they've given me a wonderful, loyal legion of fans.
I'm not saying I'd turn down an 'Oscar' role in a Hollywood blockbuster, but I
know my strengths and I don't feel compelled to compromise my standards
or represent myself as someone I'm not."
Three years ago, a 96-page hard cover photo/art book of the best of Julie
Strain's work with world renowned photographers, such as Helmut Newton,
was published as It's Only Art If It's Well Hung!. Its follow-up, The Sex Symbol
Dynasty, was a visit to the Va Va Voom, classic Hollywood glamour world with
business partners such as Rhonda Shear and Dian Parkenson. Today, the just
released Six Foot One and Worth The Climb illustrated autobiography is taking
the independent book publishing world by storm and is probably best summarized
by the quote for it given by the 50's pin-up legend, "It's Julie who keeps the
flame of pin-up beauty alive today!"
Now, Julie has an official internet presence, as well.
Queen of All Media, indeed!
