
City Arts & Lectures Gina Gershon
Apr 12, 2026
Gina Gershon, actress, singer, and writer with a four-decade career in film, stage, and music. She talks about reclaiming her provocative book title, growing up in the San Fernando Valley, and the origins of her "alpha pussy" idea. She shares stories about Showgirls, working with Prince and John Woo, improvising on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and returning to music and painting.
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Pandemic Storytelling Became A Memoir
- Gina Gershon turned casual pandemic storytelling into a full memoir by writing short essays about memories and therapy-triggered recollections.
- She organized the book around the "alpha pussy" theme to connect Valley childhood, Hollywood challenges, and survival lessons.
Trust Instincts And Exit Unsafe Situations
- Listen to your instincts and body signals when something feels wrong and remove yourself from the situation.
- Gina credits parental encouragement and early self-trust for helping her avoid dangerous predators in the San Fernando Valley.
Alpha Pussy Defined As Calm Dominance
- "Alpha pussy" is a behavioral strategy of sustained eye contact and calm dominance borrowed from taming feral male cats.
- Gina applied it on sets and with executives to defuse leering or predatory behavior and regain control of interactions.



