The definitive biography of movie executive and philanthropist Sherry Lansing traces her groundbreaking journey to become the first female head of a major motion picture studio, shares behind-the-scenes tales from movie sets and Hollywood boardrooms, and explains what inspired her to walk away from it all to start the Sherry Lansing Foundation.
As the president of 20th Century Fox and CEO of Paramount Pictures, Sherry Lansing defied expectations, rising to the top of the ranks in a town notorious for its boys’ club mentality. Her career was unprecedented at a time when most industry women were expected to become secretaries or starlets. But her determination, intelligence, and the kindness that became her trademark helped her to survive and thrive. She helped bring Oscar-winning movies and blockbusters to the silver screen–from Kramer vs. Kramer and Fatal Attraction (where she made the crucial decision to cast Glenn Close) to Forrest Gump, Titanic, Saving Private Ryan, and many others. Later, when she was at the top of her game, she left it all behind to start the Sherry Lansing Foundation, a renowned philanthropic organization that supports cancer research, public education, and other fund raising initiatives.
Written by The Hollywood Reporter‘s executive features editor and the 2013 Entertainment Journalist of the Year, Stephen Galloway, this is an entertaining and inspiring look at Lansing’s life and career. Galloway’s revealing portrait portrays a dynamic woman who was unafraid to push boundaries, change career paths, and achieve the life she wanted.