Lorna Maitland
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Lorna Maitland (born November 19, 1943) is a film actress noted mostly for her large-breasted figure, with measurements of 42D-22-36. She appeared in three Russ Meyer films: Lorna, Mudhoney and Mondo Topless. Her given name is Barbara Popejoy. She was born in Glendale, California.
Career
Lorna was a dancer in Las Vegas when she answered an ad in Daily Variety placed by Russ Meyer for the lead in Lorna (1964). Maitland was 20, weighed 135 pounds and measured 42D–25–36. She was one of 132 actresses who applied, but Maitland was not chosen, her audition photos having been accidentally overlooked. During the first day of shooting, in September 1963, Meyer hired Maitland to replace his initial choice, whom he considered too small chested. At that time, Maitland was three months pregnant, which augmented her already very large breasts.
Meyer chose a name for her. He chose 'Lorna' after a secretary he had once been attracted to. The surname 'Maitland' he chose to overcome the 'backwoods roots' of the character. Lorna marks the end of Russ Meyer's "nudies" and his first foray into serious film making. It is perhaps his most romantic film, despite the tragic ending. The director describes the movie as "a brutal examination of the important realities of power, prophecy, freedom and justice in our society against a background of violence and lust, where simplicity is only a facade." Reviews described Maitland as "a wanton of unparalleled emotion...unrestrained earthiness...destined to set a new standard of voluptuous beauty." Lorna was called "the female Tom Jones (film)".
According to numerous biographers, Maitland was the only leading lady Meyer disliked discussing. This was because she "hated his guts". In numerous interviews he actually claims that her figure "had gone south" after working with her. Maitland was pregnant during the two week Lorna shoot. This augmented her already very large breasts. Meyer claimed that her slightly smaller post-pregnancy breasts was a reason that Mudhoney (1965) was less successful than Lorna. Much of Meyer's unabashed sexism and big breast fetish is apparent when one reads about his views of Maitland.
Career decline
Lorna Maitland also appeared in Hip, Hot & 21 (1967) directed by Dale Berry (1928–2011). Following that film she vanished from the world of motion pictures. She was considered for the Angie Dickinson role in the TV series Police Woman in 1974.
Her whereabouts are currently unknown.
Filmography
- Lorna by Russ Meyer (1964)
- Mudhoney by Russ Meyer (1965)
- Mondo Topless by Russ Meyer (1966)
- Hot Thrills and Warm Chills by Dale Berry (1967)
- Hip Hot and 21 by Dale Berry (1967)
