You know that feeling when you see a character and just know nobody else could have done it quite like that? That’s Julie Newmar as Catwoman. Honestly, she didn't just play a part; she basically invented a vibe that actresses have been trying to copy for the last sixty years.
When people talk about the 1960s Batman TV show, they usually bring up the "Biff!" and "Pow!" bubbles or Adam West’s deadpan delivery. But for a lot of us, the show really started when that black-sequined figure slinked onto the screen. Julie Newmar was the first live-action Selina Kyle, and she set a bar so high it’s still orbiting the Earth.
The Weekend That Changed Everything
It’s wild how close we came to never having her in the role. Back in 1966, the producers were scrambling. They were literally days away from filming the first Catwoman episode and didn't have their lead. Julie was living in New York at the time, probably not thinking about comic book villains at all.
Then, her brother shows up. He had come down from Harvard with a bunch of friends, and when he heard the producers were calling her, he basically shoved her toward the airport. He told her it was the hottest thing on TV. She listened. By Monday, she was in a fitting. By Wednesday, she was on set.
Television moves fast, but that’s ridiculous.
That "Purr-fect" Suit (And the Secret Hack)
The costume is legendary. It’s currently sitting in the Smithsonian, which tells you everything you need to know about its cultural weight. It was made of black Lurex—a sparkly, metallic fabric that caught the studio lights like crazy.
But here’s the thing: Julie Newmar wasn't just a "pretty face" in a suit. She was a creator. She actually modified the costume herself to make it look better on camera. She realized the original waistline sat too high, making her look shorter than her 5'11" frame.
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So, what did she do? She moved the gold belt down to her hips.
She also sewed a secret "S-curve" seam into the back of the suit. This little trick accentuated her hourglass figure and made the fabric move with her body instead of bunching up. It gave her that signature "fluid" look. When she moved, she didn't just walk; she flowed like liquid. That wasn't just good genes—that was a dancer's eye for geometry.
Why She Was Smarter Than Batman
Let’s be real for a second. In that show, Batman was a bit of a square. He followed every rule, did his chores, and spoke like a walking textbook.
Julie Newmar’s Catwoman was the opposite. She was playful, sure, but she was also incredibly smart. She was often three steps ahead of the Dynamic Duo. Newmar has said in interviews that any cat-lover knows the cat is always smarter than the dog (or the bat, in this case).
She brought a level of "camp" that was sophisticated. It wasn't just "silly" for the sake of it. She played Selina Kyle as a woman who was genuinely having the time of her life. She enjoyed being a criminal. She enjoyed flirting with Batman. Most of the other villains—Joker, Penguin, Riddler—were motivated by weird grudges or pure chaos. Catwoman? She just wanted the shiny things and the handsome guy in the cape.
The Chemistry with Adam West
You can’t talk about Julie Newmar without mentioning the sparks between her and Adam West. There was this genuine warmth there. Even when she was trying to drop him into a vat of something or tie him to a giant grill, you could tell they actually liked each other.
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Fans used to wonder if they were dating in real life. They weren't, but they were very close friends until West passed away. That chemistry was largely fueled by the writing of Stanley Ralph Ross, who leaned into the "romance" aspect. It turned the hero-villain dynamic into a weird, high-stakes first date that lasted two seasons.
The Tallest Woman in the Room
Julie Newmar is about 5'11", but in those heels and with that bouffant hair, she was a giant. She had this "racehorse" physique—long, lean, and powerful. Before Batman, she was a prima ballerina with the Los Angeles Opera. That’s why she moved the way she did.
She didn't just stand there. She’d drape herself over a sofa or slide down a railing like it was a choreographed dance piece. In one famous scene, she slides down a banister to get between Batman and Robin. She did that in one take. She later admitted she ad-libbed a lot of her movements, including turning her back to the camera at "naughty" moments just to see if the censors would notice.
Why She Left (The McKenna’s Gold Conflict)
A lot of people are still confused about why she wasn't in the third season or the 1966 movie. It wasn't drama. It wasn't a contract dispute. It was just boring old scheduling.
She was cast in a movie called McKenna’s Gold, a big-budget Western. The filming schedules overlapped perfectly with the Batman production. She couldn't be in two places at once, so she had to pass.
That’s how we got Lee Meriwether in the movie and the iconic Eartha Kitt in Season 3. While Kitt was amazing (that growl!), Newmar’s absence was definitely felt. She had this specific "sultry-but-funny" balance that was hard to replicate.
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The Long Legacy of the Claws
Julie Newmar’s impact is actually kind of profound when you look at how women were portrayed on TV in the '60s. Most women were the damsel in distress or the supportive housewife.
Then you had Catwoman.
She was a boss. She ran her own gang. She had a secret lair. She made her own rules. Newmar has said that women still come up to her today to tell her that Catwoman gave them the "permission" to be strong and forthright.
Modern Influences
Every Catwoman since—from Michelle Pfeiffer to Zoë Kravitz—owes a debt to the Newmar template.
- The Seductress: That purr wasn't in the comics; Julie brought that.
- The Silhouette: The idea of the skin-tight, one-piece suit started here.
- The Moral Gray Area: She wasn't truly evil, just "naughty."
Takeaways for the Super-Fan
If you’re looking to channel some of that Newmar energy or just want to appreciate the era more, here’s how to look at it through a modern lens:
- Movement is Everything: If you’re a performer or just want better presence, watch her early episodes. Notice how she uses her height and hands. She never just "stands." She occupies space.
- Understand "Camp": To really get the 1966 series, you have to realize they were in on the joke. Newmar played it with a "wink" to the audience that makes it hold up better than most 60s shows.
- DIY Your Vision: Don't be afraid to modify things. Just like she moved that gold belt to make the suit "hers," the best icons are the ones who put their personal stamp on a role.
- Visit the History: If you’re ever in D.C., go to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Seeing the actual Lurex suit in person is a trip. It’s smaller than you’d think, but the "star power" it radiates is still very much there.
Julie Newmar once said that Catwoman was Batman’s "one true love." Looking back, she might have been right. She made us love the villain just as much as—if not more than—the hero. And she did it all while looking like a million bucks in black sequins.
To get the full experience of her performance, start with the Season 1 episodes "The Purr-fect Crime" and "Better Luck Next Time." They show the exact moment the legend was born.