Annette Kellerman
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Annette Kellerman
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Narrated by:
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Elizabeth Parisi
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Written by:
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Grantlee Kieza
About this listen
Born into a daring, musical family in 1886, Annette Kellerman was a force of nature and made for the stage – her first love – and encouraged to defy social norms from a young age. But after she was diagnosed with rickets as a child she took up swimming for therapy, and soon she became an Australian champion, beating boys, breaking records and astonishing huge crowds by diving from great heights. By 1905, Kellerman was 18 and on her way to England in an attempt to swim the Channel and challenge endurance records in the Thames.
Kellerman thrilled audiences in London with a vaudeville act, and her underwater ballet routines, combined with her beauty and athleticism, helped her become known on both sides of the Atlantic as 'The Perfect Woman'. Hollywood embraced her and she became the first great sex symbol of silent films, with her risque and provocative costumes – and sometimes no costume at all. But despite all her fame Kellerman always saw the promotion of health, fitness and independence for women as her biggest and most lasting achievement, and her influence and spirit changed the lives of millions.
©2025 Grantlee Kieza. The right of Grantlee Kieza to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000. (P)2025 Bolinda Publishing. This audio version produced by arrangement with HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Limited.