Julie Newmar, now 92, reflects on her remarkable journey from ballet dancer to the iconic Catwoman in the 1960s Batman TV series, and her life caring for her son John, who has Down's syndrome. In her Brentwood garden, she describes her philosophy: 'My life is about beauty – in the garden, in behaviour, in treatment of others.'
Newmar's career began with dance, leading to roles in films like 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' and 'The Marriage-Go-Round'. Her statuesque figure and talent often typecast her as a seductress, but she became a gay icon, particularly after her cameo in 'To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar'.
Her mother, a former Ziegfeld Follies dancer, inspired her career. Newmar says, 'She gave me all that she didn't have in her life.' Despite industry limitations, she remains proud of her work and her role as a caregiver, living with her son in a home filled with 90 varieties of roses, including one named after her.
