She was the object of countless boys’ lust as the original sexy sixties Batgirl, but for a generation of girls, actor Yvonne Craig was much more: a smart role model in high-heeled boots and an early campaigner for equal rights and fair pay.
When news of her death broke yesterday, tributes poured in, not least from her one-time Star Trek co-star William Shatner who described her as “one of America’s sweethearts”. Guardian readers of a certain age described her as their first teenage crush, counting her in the company of Eartha Kitt as Catwoman, Bewitched’s Elizabeth Montgomery and I Dream of Jeannie’s Barbara Eden.
Yet Craig will also be remembered for her broader impact. Australian author Tara Moss was one of many to describe her as a “pioneer of female superheroes”, for her dual role as studious librarian Barbara Gordon turned fearless Batgirl, who was often called upon to rescue Batman and Robin, at the last minute and without breaking a sweat.
Behind the scenes, Craig was just as fearless, convincing producers to allow her to perform all her own stunts, unlike her co-stars Adam West (Batman) and Burt Ward (Robin).
Craig acknowledged the duality of the role, saying in a later interview that she was cast “because they needed someone who could encourage an over-40 male audience and a pre-pubescent female audience. That’s the real reason why they hired me!”
She had her doubts about her appeal to teenage girls – “I’d figured that at that age, they’d be more interested in Robin” – but throughout her life, women approached Craig to thank her for her early influence.
In a 1998 interview with Femme Fatale magazine, the actor said: “I meet young women who say Batgirl was their role model. They say it’s because it was the first time they ever felt girls could do the same things guys could do, and sometimes better. I think that’s lovely.”
Batgirl was “take-charge and quick to assess a situation and take action on it”, she said later of her character. “And she wasn’t violent - she was wily and quick-witted’”
In a post for Playboy, comic book writer Gail Simone remembers being awestruck after seeing Batgirl on television for the first time: “She spawned a generation of geekgirls for decades to come. I know that when I went back to my little elementary school after seeing her for the first time, I stood a little taller, I spoke a little more forcefully, and when I saw kids bully other kids, I took a stand. Because I knew that’s what Batgirl would do.”
Post-Batman, Craig appeared in Star Trek, The Six Million Dollar Man, Mod Squad, Starsky and Hutch and Kojak, continuing to take her role model status seriously. In 1974, she appeared in a public service announcement for the US labour department for the Equal Pay for Equal Work campaign.
Clad once again in her purple and gold crime fighting suit, Craig as Batgirl bursts through the door of the deserted warehouse to find Batman and Robin tied to a pole, with a bomb ticking. Before she’ll free the pair, she reminds Batman about her lack of pay.
Batgirl: I’ve worked for you for a long time, and and I’m paid less than Robin.
Robin: Holy discontent!
Batgirl: Same job, same employer means equal pay for men and women.
Craig was reportedly happy to take part in the campaign saying: “I loved the premise that, only when I got pay that was equal to theirs would I save them!”
It was to be her final appearance as Batgirl. She retired from acting in the 70s but continued to campaign for equal rights and pay for women. She also lent her support to a campaign for free mammograms for women who couldn’t afford them. Craig died following complications from breast cancer. She was 78.
