Brianne Murphy

Geraldine Brianne Murphy, born in London to Irish parents, bounced around English and American schools before she got bitten by the acting bug. Instead of taking the easy road, she decided to go full American—like, literally. She joined a rodeo as a trick rider for a season. That’s not a typo. Then, in a move that’s honestly kind of legendary, she straight-up snuck into the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden on opening night in 1954, dressed as a clown, and performed the whole evening. People noticed, obviously. The stunt grabbed enough attention that she scored a job as a still photographer with the circus, traveling all over the place. Eventually, Hollywood came calling. She ended up working with indie filmmakers Jerry Warren and Ralph Brooke (fun fact: she married both of them at different times, so her personal life was just as wild as her early career). Murphy didn’t just stick to acting; she smashed through a glass ceiling and became the first woman director of photography on a major studio, union film—Fatso, in 1980. Not too shabby, right? She racked up a handful of Emmy nominations for her cinematography work, snagging a win along the way, plus she took home a 1982 Scientific and Engineering Academy Award. Basically, she was a total powerhouse—breaking rules, making history, and leaving her mark on both sides of the camera.