Meet Georgia Durante of Valley Village

Today we’d like to introduce you to Georgia Durante.

Hi Georgia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Georgia Durante Bio

Georgia Durante was born in Rochester, New York (Home of Eastman Kodak) in 1950. By the time she was 17 years old she was considered the most photographed girl in the country. In 1968 she was the “Kodak Girl” with her life size image in a blue and white polka dot bikini that appeared in 80,000 drug stores and camera stores throughout the world.

Georgia moved to Hollywood, CA in 1976 running from the mob. (She drove the getaway cars back then.) She lived in her car until she found an old friend who let her stay in his studio apt. until she could figure out what was next. Modeling on a National scale would make it easy for the mob to know where she was. While watching TV she saw many car commercials where you could never see the driver! She started showing up on the sets and bugging the directors who brushed her off, but she persisted until she finally prevailed. She went from being in front of the camera to being behind it, doubling for stars in movies and commercials as a stunt driver. She eventually.formed her company, Performance Two Inc., consisting of a team of sixteen stunt drivers tailored for the automotive commercial industry. She went from living in her car to now living in a 5000 sq. ft. home.

During the filming of a Bugle Boy Jeans commercial in Bodega Bay, driving a vintage Dino Ferrari Georgia survived a stunt gone wrong. This incident inspired her to look at her life in depth. She started to write a journal for therapy, and it turned into a best-selling book. The book has recently been optioned by Sony Pictures for a Netflix series. As Executive Producer, she plans to double the woman who doubles for her in the series for the driving scenes..

Georgia’s autobiography, The Company She Keeps” is about her life as a wheelwoman for the Mafia. She has successfully turned the negatives into positives and became a Stunt Driver for movies and automobile commercials. There many abuse issues touched on in the book that have resinated with thousands of women whose own lives experience have been different, but in many ways, the same. They have reached out to her for comfort and advise. Her book took her down roads she never expected to take. She now travels around the country speaking to abused women, kids on drugs, women in prison and she inspires them to look at their lives and make the needed changes. She has saved one woman from being murdered and another from committing suicide. Those are the two she knows about. She has lived many lives in one and speaks on several topics on many levels. She has become a favorite guest for TV talk shows and radio shows.

With her company, Performance Two Inc., Georgia Durante has performed in hundreds of national and international television commercial campaigns. Her clients include all of the major automobile manufacturers as well as many of the most recognized brands and products in the world. Additionally she has appeared in numerous feature films and network television shows.

Stunt work can be hard on the body. After having had 2 neck surgeries she had to back off from stunts. She has been working on remodeling her home for 30 years and has turned it into a business. She now rents her home (The Enchanted Manor) for weddings and other events as well as for filming and vacation stays. Survival has always been her motivation. Where there is a will, there is a way. When you believe in yourself, you can do anything!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Making a mark in a man’s world was a challenge but I achieved the respect and admiration of my peers

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I bought my home in 1983. It was 2800 sq ft when I bought it. It is now 5000 sq ft. I have been remolding it for 30 years, putting over a million dollars into the renovations. After retiring from the stunt world I always knew my home would generate income in my later years. My home is now my business. I am very proud of how I have transformed this home from when I originally bought it. I adopted a little girl when she was 10 days old and built her a $60,000 play house. She is now 18 but that playhouse is a draw for families renting here for vacation. The Studios use it for their production office when filming here. Kids entertain themselves in there during weddings and kids parties. What I am most known for would be my stunt work and for sure, my book.

Any big plans?
Well, I think the series on my life story will keep me pretty busy for a while. They are looking at doing 3 seasons. Who knows where that may take me after it airs. Life just takes me where it wants me to go. I just follow along.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.enchantedmanorevents.com, www.thecompanyshekeeps.com, www.theenchantedmanorvacationrental.com
• Instagram: georgiadurante
• Facebook: Georgia Durante
• LinkedIn: Georgia Durante
• Twitter: wheelmoman

Image Credits
All photos were taken with my camera except The Kodak girl poster which I have a release form from Kokak