Dogmatic

The HBO/Killer Films’ production The Notorious Bettie Page, stars Gretchen Mol as 1950’s model ‘Bettie Page’, one of the first dark-haired sex icons in America and target of a government ‘witch hunt’ based on her posing for ‘bondage’ pin-up photos.

Newmarket Films will release the feature March 10, 2006.

Born April 22 1923, in Nashville, TN., the real Bettie Page had a difficult childhood including a stint in orphanage. But she did well in high school and voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed’.

In 1950, while walking along the beach at New York’s Coney Island, she was approached by Jerry Tibbs, a police officer and amateur photographer who put together her first portfolio.

Bettie evolved into an an underground sensation and in 1955 became a “Playboy” magazine centerfold.

In 1957, Bettie quit modeling, had a failed marriage, then entered a religious seminary, where she worked as a Christian missionary.

Eventually she was institutionalized for mental problems.

Now in her 80’s, Bettie Page lives in southern California.

In retrospect, she says, “I wasn’t trying to change society, or to be ahead of my time. I didn’t think of myself as liberated and I don’t believe that I did anything important. I was just myself. I didn’t know any other way to be …”

Filmed in New York City and Miami. Florida, The Notorious Bettie Page also stars Lili Taylor, Jonathan M. Woodward, David Strathairn, Cara Seymour, Tara Subkoff and Kevin Carroll.

Directed by Mary “American Psycho” Harron and written by Harron and Guinivere Turner, The Notorious Bettie Page is produced by Lori Keith Douglas, Pamela Koffler, Katie Roumel and Christine “Boys Don’t Cry” Vachon. John Wells is executive producer.