Erica Gavin’s journey to Vixen began with whispers from Haji and Tura Satana about Russ Meyer. Skeptical at first, a Variety ad caught her eye, leading to an audition and an iconic role. Vixen’s impact—banned in some states, celebrated in others—cemented her place in cult cinema history.

In 1969, Russ Meyer, famed for his low-budget box office hits, was handed a golden ticket by 20th Century Fox—his pick of any script. Choosing a Valley of the Dolls non-sequel, he and Roger Ebert crafted Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, a pop-art fever dream. Erica, cast as Roxanne, found herself navigating on-set tensions, a groundbreaking love scene, and the film’s infamous violence.

After Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Erica struggled to find projects—until Jonathan Demme cast her in Caged Heat (1974). Shot at Lincoln Heights Jail, the cult classic stood out for its feminist take on the women-in-prison genre. “Demme was a director’s director,” she recalls.