We all know the woman pictured above.  She’s been the symbol of Columbia Pictures movies since 1993.  But who is the woman in the picture?

Her name is Jenny Joseph.   She was a 28-year-old British graphic artist working for The Times-Picayune in New Orleans.  This was her first and only modeling job.  Seasoned painter Michael Deas was commissioned by Columbia Pictures to paint a logo for them in 1992.  He was asked to create an updated version of a woman holding a torch, the theme that has been used for the production company’s logo since 1924.  Willing to take the job, Deas interviewed many possible women to pose for the new logo, but he didn’t find anyone that felt right.  After an unsuccessful search, Deas’ friend introduced him to Jenny Joseph, and the rest is history.

Kathy Anderson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, was asked by Deas to photograph Joseph.  This made it easy because Anderson and Joseph worked at the same newspaper!  Anderson transformed her apartment in New Orleans into a photography studio.  All that was used for the photo shoot was a white sheet, a big piece of blue fabric, a few boxes for a pedestal, a gray backdrop, and a desk lamp.  Anderson provided Joseph with the white sheet to drape around herself.  When Deas chose the perfect picture, it took him two months to paint the picture we see on our television screens today.

In an interview, Jenny Joseph said that she was surprised when she saw herself as the logo for Columbia Pictures at the movie theater, and she still sees her face to this day.  She stated, “You never know how paths cross and what’s going to come out of events… just go for it.”  Jenny Joseph has been the face of Columbia Pictures for countless films for more than 20 years, and for many years to come.