Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker

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s ricocheted around the world. That was just the beginning of an extraordinary run that saw her head two studios, make hundreds of films, produce classic pictures such as Fatal Attraction and rule for twenty-five years as the most powerful woman Hollywood has ever known. Award-winning writer Stephen Galloway takes us behind the scenes of Lansing's epic journey-inside the battles; up close with the stars; and into the heart of a creative world populated by the likes of Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg, Jane Fonda, Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise. He shows us the velvet touch that masked the iron hand, and the roller-coaster drama behind such movies as Titanic, Forrest Gump, Braveheart and Saving Private Ryan. Above all, he takes us into the mind of Lansing, creating a revealing portrait of a dynamic, driven woman who overcame unimaginable odds, pushed boundaries and left Hollywood at the peak of her power to achieve the life she wanted. 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.s ricocheted around the world. That was just the beginning of an extraordinary run that saw her head two studios, make hundreds of films, produce classic pictures such as Fatal Attraction and rule for twenty-five years as the most powerful woman Hollywood has ever known. Award-winning writer Stephen Galloway takes us behind the scenes of Lansing's epic journey-inside the battles; up close with the stars; and into the heart of a creative world populated by the likes of Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg, Jane Fonda, Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise. He shows us the velvet touch that masked the iron hand, and the roller-coaster drama behind such movies as Titanic, Forrest Gump, Braveheart and Saving Private Ryan. Above all, he takes us into the mind of Lansing, creating a revealing portrait of a dynamic, driven woman who overcame unimaginable odds, pushed boundaries and left Hollywood at the peak of her power to achieve the life she wanted. 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.
STEPHEN GALLOWAY is a critically acclaimed entertainment reporter and winner of the Entertainment Journalist of the Year Award in 2013. He is the executive features editor for The Hollywood Reporter, and was the moderator for the 2014 season of The Hollywood Masters, a TV series featuring interviews with major Hollywood directors, such as David O. Russell and Judd Apatow.