Holly Woodlawn (October 26, 1946 – December 6, 2015) was an American actress and Warhol superstar who appeared in the films Trash (1970) and Women in Revolt (1971).

[5] She recalled in her memoir, A Low Life in High Heels: At the age of 16, when most kids were cramming for trigonometry exams, I was turning tricks, living off the streets and wondering when my next meal was coming.By 1969, she had considered sex reassignment surgery, but decided against it.

[6] In May 1971, Woodlawn replaced Candy Darling at the La MaMa theatre in a production of Vain Victory written and directed by Jackie Curtis.

Woodlawn created a stir when she was arrested in New York City after impersonating the wife of the French Ambassador to the United Nations.

In 1972, director Robert Kaplan and cinematographer Paul Glickman concocted the idea of a movie whose premise would be using a transgender woman as the lead in a film without revealing the sex of the actress.

By 1979, she had surrendered to a faltering career, cut her hair and moved back to her parents' home in Miami, while working as a busser at Benihana.

During the 1990s, Woodlawn achieved a modest film and theatrical comeback, making cameo appearances in productions such as Night Owl (1993) and Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998).

When Holly Woodlawn appeared in public she would dress as a dazzling alternative image of Jean Harlow, complete with wig and frosted lipstick.

In the opinion of Vincent Canby, "Holly Woodlawn, especially, is something to behold, a comic book Mother Courage who fancies herself as Marlene Dietrich but sounds more often like Phil Silvers.

She was later forced to vacate her West Hollywood, California, apartment due to flooding, and entered an assisted living facility in October.

[12] Lou Reed refers to Woodlawn in his song "Walk on the Wild Side", the opening verse of which describes her hitchhiking journey and gender transition:[13] Holly came from Miami, F-L-A Hitchhiked her way across the USA Plucked her eyebrows on the way Shaved her legs and then he was a she She says, "Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side."