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3 October, 2025
The Life of a WB Showgirl
Lights, Camera, Action! Discover our list of showgirls (or boys) who are no stranger to the limelight.
The world is a stage, and life is a cabaret. In honour of Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, we’re shining the spotlight on our most showgirl-worthy characters, with a list of 12 candidates for 12 tracks.
Jay Gatsby
Movie: The Great Gatsby (2013)
Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio
Track: The Fate of Ophelia
The man of the hour, Jay Gatsby, is the ultimate showgirl. Glittering sequins, fabulous feathers; Gatsby has it all at his showgirl-esque parties, true to a 1920s glamorous aesthetic as funded by his nouveau riche lifestyle. However, all is not what it seems with the enigmatic celebrity – the smoke and mirrors illusory world is merely a spectacle, orchestrated solely for the intention of reuniting with the one he loves – Daisy Buchanan.Gatsby is also the ultimate Ophelia, fitting ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ naturally – from his outcast rejection by society to his dramatic death in his own pool. Gatsby perfectly mirrors the Shakespearean tragic character, one deemed mad and subsequently ignored by society, left later to drown in a river after rejection from Hamlet. These entwined souls have much in common; both a fleeting fantasy not made for their respective worlds. As Daisy says, “All the bright, precious things fade so fast…and they don’t come back,” much like Gatsby, and Ophelia.
Gloria Wandrous
Movie: BUtterfield 8 (1960)
Actor: Elizabeth Taylor
Track: Elizabeth Taylor
Starring as a track title herself, it only makes sense that Elizabeth Taylor makes the list. One of the most iconic actresses of the 20th century, Taylor starred in classics like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966) and BUtterfield 8 (1960). Living a lifestyle equitable to showgirl performance, her personal life constantly exposed to the public eye.Similarly, Taylor’s BUtterfield 8 character Gloria Wandrous too can conform to the showgirl title. Idolised and scandalised, adored and detested, Wandrous must navigate her way through the overwhelming weight of society’s judgements on how she chooses to live her life. “She’s like catnip to every cat in town”, desirable and alluring, Wandrous performs for her audience and searches for external validation in them. Glamour and scandal intertwined, this Elizabeth Taylor character undoubtedly exudes the showgirl archetype.
Barbie
Movie: Barbie (2023)
Actor: Margot Robbie
Track: Opalite
Barbie lives and breathes the showgirl lifestyle. She is expected to be perfect with the pressure of being a role model, but becomes disillusioned by the façade of perfection when her reality is abruptly shattered by the real world’s modern perceptions of Barbie.An ‘Opalite’ is beautiful but artificial, often made of glass and synthetically imitating a real opal. In a similar fashion, Barbie learns she is an artificial, man-made imitation of how women are expected to look. Her whimsical bubble is burst when Barbie realises the impossible standards she is expected to live up to, similarly to the purpose of an opalite, struggling with the pressures to be perfect. Similar in design too, Barbie is heavily bejewelled in the movie, even wearing an eye-catching vintage Chanel necklace with multi-coloured gemstones. The perfect accessory for a true showgirl.
Willy Wonka
Movie: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Actor: Gene Wilder
Track: Father Figure
“If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it. Anything you want to, do it; want to change the world... there's nothing to it.”A showgirl in the chocolate industry, the enigmatic celebrity Willy Wonka dazzles and delights with his eccentric theatrics and his elaborate inventions. A dramatic entrance, we’re first introduced to Wonka with his iconic, unpredictable forward roll outside the factory’s gates, immediately confirming his showgirl status by entertaining the masses. The performances Willy Wonka (and Gene Wilder) displays throughout the 1971 classic will forever cement him as one of the most legendary, memorable showgirls of the 20th century.
The world around Wonka looked up to him as an influential figure, with even Charlie Bucket idolising him as a role model. It feels only right that Willy Wonka should take on the role as the ‘Father Figure’ track. Certainly a more complex parental figure, but one that looks for the genuine good in people, even if he goes about it in an unpredictable way (as Charlie finds out).
Kathy Selden
Movie: Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Actor: Debby Reynolds
Track: Eldest Daughter
Overlooked and overshadowed, our favourite chorus girl Kathy Selden is the perfect showgirl. Played by the immensely talented Debbie Reynolds, one of Hollywood’s most famous showgirls, Selden faces the competitive world of the entertainment industry when met with the obstacles set by diva leading lady Lina Lamont. But hey that’s showbiz… and “the show must go on,” as Cosmo Brown says.Selden perfectly embodies the ‘Eldest Daughter’ figure, facing the burden of being constantly second to Lamont, despite her hard work in the competitive showgirl world, brushed off by the industry. But her incredible talent doesn’t stay a secret forever, much to the audiences’ delight.
Elsie Marina
Movie: The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
Actor: Marilyn Monroe
Track: Ruin the Friendship
The clue is in the title! Showgirl Elsie Marina in The Prince and the Showgirl is thrust into the political world with the unlikely alliance of the Prince Regent of Carpathia (Laurence Olivier). Played by the Golden Age of Hollywood’s leading showgirl Marilyn Monroe, who is no stranger to the trials of fame and celebrity culture. In both reality and fiction, Monroe and Marina were renowned for their glamorous, charming and charismatic personalities, the quintessential embodiments of the showgirl status.Marina and the Prince can be seen to ‘Ruin the Friendship’ through the emotional journey they face together; the prince’s first romantic advances on Marina initially rejected, to the close bond the pair form, along with the romantic tension growing along the way. It’s clear the two could at any moment ruin the friendship that they have arranged, despite the opposites that they are.
Edna Turnblad
Movie: Hairspray (2007)
Actor: Edna Turnblad
Track: Actually Romantic
“Welcome to the ‘60s!” Introducing a new era of showgirls, with 1960s fashion, music and of course, hairspray. The costumes, hair and make-up take us to a new era of showgirl style, in 2007’s Hairspray. The theatrical presence commanded by John Travolta as Edna Turnblad shines as brightly as the sequins on their dress. The extravagant style of Edna was inspired by drag and showgirl culture alike, and the result is nothing short of spectacular in the hit musical.Amidst a society resistant to inclusivity with harsh, conventional beauty standards, Edna Turnblad must transform from shy laundress to the unapologetically proud performer she is meant to be. It is for this reason, Turnblad matches the ‘Actually Romantic’ title as she learns to love herself and feel loved by those around her.
Sally Bowles
Movie: Cabaret (1972)
Actor: Liza Minnelli
Track: Wi$h Li$t
“Divine decadence darling.” Sally Bowles is the epitome of a showgirl and played by none other than Liza Minnelli - you can’t get more showbiz than this! The nightclub performer can put on a show in the Kit Kat Club, inspired by the most showgirl styles including cabaret, burlesque and Fosse aesthetics.Bowles deserves the ‘Wi$h Li$t’ title, most notably with the musical’s satirical song ‘Money Money’, mocking society’s materialist obsessions. The glamour and financial implications of the ‘Wi$h Li$t’ relate to Bowles as she relentlessly chases her aspirations of being a star. Set in 1930s Berlin, in a time of intense political turmoil, the outside world is closing in on Bowles, amidst the glitz and glam of her hermetically sealed cabaret lifestyle. After her internal battle, in denial of the chaotic word around her, Bowles finally embraces the glamour and escapism of cabaret in the end – wanting more and more that the lifestyle offers. In reality, the finite existence of stardom is one that resonates deeply with Bowles and the incessant pursuit of fame packs a heavy toll.
Ally
Movie: A Star is Born (2018)
Actor: Lady Gaga
Track: Wood
Ally gets a taste for the showgirl lifestyle, catching her big break after meeting singer Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper). Like any showgirl thrust into the limelight, Ally must navigate the pressures that follow, let alone the additional struggles of handling Jackon’s addiction troubles. For this reason, Ally’s track title is ‘Wood’, connoting how she must remain dependable and stable whilst balancing personal and professional stresses. Her resilient nature despite these issues is truly admirable, determined to stay thick-skinned despite the troubles around her, proving it’s not all glitz and glam for some of our showgirls and guys.Arthur Fleck/Joker
Movie: Joker (2019)
Actor: Joaquin Phoenix
Track: CANCELLED!
“Send in the clowns!” Arthur Fleck’s journey in becoming the Joker is a battled one. Being publicly humiliated by his hero, TV show host Murray Franklin, and targeted on the subway, Fleck is made to feel small by a society that mistreats him - this showgirl is one with a much darker story.Fittingly, with society’s rejection of him as Joker, Fleck’s track title is ‘CANCELLED!’. The Joker is seen as insane and dangerous, a provoker of societal unrest in Gotham as riots hit the streets inspired by his image. A man wanting to be loved by society for his comedy has turned into the iconic villain audiences know and love in Joker. This is a heavier story about the adoration and judgement faced by those in the spotlight, similarly to that of a showgirl, both subject to their audience’s validation.
Dorothy Gale
Movie: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Actor: Judy Garland
Track: Honey
Dorothy is a showgirl through and through. From her moving performance of ‘Over the Rainbow’ to the magical world of Oz she becomes surrounded by, the stage is set for the performer that she is. Played by the wickedly talented Judy Garland, the vulnerability and the strength put into Dorothy is a performance for the ages.As sweet as honey, Dorothy fittingly suits the track with her optimistic but at times naive outlook. Nevertheless, her help around Oz teaming up with friends and defeating the Wicked Witch of the West can be likened to the healing properties of honey. For an ordinary girl thrust into a magical world, her positive attitude still ensures the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow have been changed for the better, and Oz has been changed for good.
Elvis Presley
Movie: Elvis (2022)
Actor: Austin Butler
Track: The Life of a Showgirl
“The image is one thing and the human being is another. It’s very hard to live up to an image.”Elvis, the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ himself, is more than worthy of the showgirl title, and especially the titular ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ track. Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic Elvis stars Austin Butler, who depicts the curse and blessing of fame that grasped Elvis from a young age. The film showcases Elvis’s love of music and his rapid rise to fame, to his infamous Las Vegas residency in his final years.
Loved and idolised by the public, Elvis remains one of the greatest music stars to have ever lived. His legacy remains one of a pop culture icon, always to be remembered for his unique style and distinctive singing. A true performer, The Life of a Showgirl is a fitting title.
And that’s a wrap on our 12 WB showgirls (and boys). Discover our accompanying film collection, here.