Julie Newmar Never-Before-Seen PHOTOS Released

Back in October 1958, well before she ever donned a pair of cat whiskers or rolled the "r" in the word "perfect," Julie Newmar (aka TV's Catwoman) was an up-and-coming star about to embark on a high-profile photo shoot for one of the world's biggest magazines, some of them never seen before until being published in this gallery. It was an afternoon that Newmar, then 25, still remembers vividly. Newmar, who is soon to publish a new book, The Conscious Catwoman Explains Life on Earth (available for sale through her website) recently sat down to reminisce about that afternoon in New York City ... that afternoon she was in LIFE Magazine.

Text, photos and captions by LIFE.com.
For more of the never-before-published photos of Julie Newmar, visit LIFE.com.

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In 1956, Newmar (who'd previously starred as one of the brides in the classic musical film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) became an overnight sensation in the Broadway production of Li'l Abner as Stupefyin' Jones (center, arms aloft), the most gorgeous woman in Dogpatch, Kentucky. Newmar became a sex symbol even though she didn't have a single spoken line and was only onstage for 90 seconds. "That was taken while we were performing," Newmar says of this photo. "That was delicious. I'm thinking luscious thoughts about the men in this world -- that usually gives me a wonderful look on my face." (Photos courtesy of Gjon Mili/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

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In 1956, Newmar (who'd previously starred as one of the brides in the classic musical film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) became an overnight sensation in the Broadway production of Li'l Abner as Stupefyin' Jones (center, arms aloft), the most gorgeous woman in Dogpatch, Kentucky. Newmar became a sex symbol even though she didn't have a single spoken line and was only onstage for 90 seconds. "That was taken while we were performing," Newmar says of this photo. "That was delicious. I'm thinking luscious thoughts about the men in this world -- that usually gives me a wonderful look on my face." (Photos courtesy of Gjon Mili/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

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Not bad. Yowzer.

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Comments

[edgraham]

03:34 PM on 11/01/2010

Damn, I love women.

[Sahlty]

12:59 PM on 11/01/2010

To see her in action, moving those hips in Li'l Abner, making Jethro go nuts in Beverly Hillbillies etc, try this YouTube Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IdcKWE-zqk

The soundtrack is Julie singing "I'm a Woman." AND SHE SURE IS

[Cranmer1549]

10:10 AM on 11/01/2010

Damn, that was a real woman.

[NoSillyName]

12:13 AM on 11/01/2010

Julie Newmar is HOT! Loved her long ago on that tv show. What was it "My Living Doll"?

And she was the perfect Catwoman!!

[funkdragon23]

05:13 PM on 10/31/2010

Va-va-va-voom!

[afgail]

06:36 AM on 10/31/2010

When I see pictures of actresses like Julie Newmar, I marvel at how far were have deviated from the true female form in our culture. The stick thin, flat chested, narrow hipped, boy like creatures of fashion today are barely female.

[OnTheCusp]

06:04 AM on 11/01/2010

Yeah! And NOBODY has a waistline anymore. They all want "sixpacks." (shakin' my head.)

[Chi--townfool]

05:53 PM on 11/04/2010

Those are fashion models they're supposed to be androgynous, nobody really likes them

[edejan]

02:27 AM on 10/31/2010

What a beautiful, sophisticated and classy beauty. And that figure is to die for!!

[ThomasPaine1776]

01:41 AM on 10/31/2010

Behold, ladies and gentlemen....the Perfect Woman. (then and now) We love you, Julie!

[Donman]

12:38 AM on 10/31/2010

I met her some months back - extremely nice lady.

[blastocyst]

12:14 AM on 10/31/2010

"My Living Doll" was a favorite show of mine for Julie's influence. Her affect for that series stayed with me all of my life. What a lady.

[nelly55]

12:13 AM on 10/31/2010

back when a woman had a real figure..................and it wasn't a size 0

beautiful then

beautiful now

[Womanvoter4Obama]

10:26 PM on 10/30/2010

Somewhere Wong Fu is smiling.

[mattamorr]

09:45 PM on 10/30/2010

Stunning...Always.

[April Pells]

08:54 PM on 10/30/2010

Gorgeous.

[edgeninja]

07:29 PM on 10/30/2010

Wow, they sure don't make too many women who look like THAT anymore.