Jane Forth

American actress and model

Jane Forth (born March 4, 1953)^[1] is an American actress and model, best known for having been one of the Warhol superstars, starring in films such as Trash,^[2] and being one of “Antonio’s Girls”, models and muses of fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez.^[3]

Early years

Forth dropped out of high school and, with her family, left St. Claire Shores, Michigan, when she was 15 to go to New York.^[4]

Career

She started her career as a receptionist at Andy Warhol's Factory.^[5] Forth met Warhol through her first boyfriend, Jay Johnson—the twin brother of Warhol’s long-time partner, Jed Johnson.^[3]

In July 1970, she was on the cover of Life.^[5] She had just turned 17 when Jack Mitchell photographed her for the mostly nude four-page photo spread. Her unique look, involving plucked eyebrows, Wesson-oiled hair, pale skin, red cheeks, and bold lips, was pronounced the “New Now Face” in 1970. Inspired by classic Hollywood heroines, such as Myrna Loy and Claudette Colbert, she styled herself in thrifted clothing from the 1930s and ‘40s.^[3]

Taken with her striking appearance, Warhol invited Forth to perform in Trash (1970) with Joe Dallesandro and Holly Woodlawn. Despite her youth, Forth shined in the production.^[3]

Rapidly launched into the worlds of fashion and film, Forth posed for Antonio Lopez’s fashion illustrations in the New York Times and was photographed for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. The youth and arrogance of then-teenaged Forth shows through her 1970 statement to Vogue: “When I’m home I’m yelling at my mother to iron my clothes, and when I’m out, I’m standing around yawning at all these fancy people”.^[6] She declared in the same interview that she bought dime-store make up and each of her “dress-up faces” only cost twenty five cents, with her thrifted vintage dresses averaging a price of $12.50. After appearing in Women In Revolt (1971), she was cast in Warhol’s next production, L’Amour (1972) alongside fellow Warhol superstar Donna Jordan.^[3]

After retiring from acting, she moved into film, make-up, and special effects.

Personal life

Forth was married to the English director of photography Oliver Wood for 22 years, and they have two daughters.^[5]

Selected filmography

Trash (1970) - Jane
Women in Revolt (1971) - Jane
L'Amour (1973) - Jane
Andy Warhol's Bad (1977) - Screaming Passer-by
The Prowler (1981) - makeup artist

References

^ Andy Warhol superstar Jane Forth on the Factory days, The Untitled Magazine, Retrieved 15 Jan 2023
^ Jane Forth: Warhol's Trashy 1970's It Girl, Refinery29, Retrieved 3 May 2016
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Jane Forth, ongoing exhibit. The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh.
^ "Just Plain Jane". LIFE. Time Inc. 4 July 1970. pp. 54–57. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Jane Forth, Teenage Model & Warhol Superstar, AgnautaCouture, Retrieved 3 May 2016
^ "Jane Forth". Life. Vol. 69, no. 1. July 4, 1970.