Curator Nerida Campbell on Femme Fatale

The new exhibition Femme Fatale covers both fact and fiction, doesn't it?
It's in two halves. The first half covers historical theories about why women become criminals - from "they are unable to resist temptation like a man" through to Freud and penis envy. And we move from there to religion, starting with Eve as the first transgressor, ancient Greek myths, and into popular culture, from 1920s depictions of female criminals in magazines, to film noir, up to the Charlize Theron movie Monster. Then you get the reality.

Tell us about some of Sydney's notorious real-life female criminals in the show.
There's one from that razor gang period (1920s to 1940s) called Iris Webber. She was known as the most violent woman in Sydney. She was a thief, a shoplifter, she was into sly grog. She was an out lesbian and into masochism. She killed a man over a lover's quarrel - Iris had a passion for a young prostitute whose pimp would mistreat her. One man ended up dead, another was shot, and a third was attacked with a meat cleaver and never regained the use of his hands.

Yikes! What about Esther Eggers [pictured]?
Esther Eggers was a meek-looking woman but she was also incredibly violent. She would entice men into dark alleyways then her brother would hit them over the head with a brick or a beer bottle. They were such a scourge of Surry Hills that other criminals actually spoke to the police about their activities. Esther was arrested, she fought violently, injured a policeman and was sent off to prison. That was in 1919 when she was 22 years old.

Did any real Sydney women approach the pulp fiction stereotype?
The only one who comes close would be Doucie Markham. She was gorgeous and worked as a prostitute. Many of the men she had relationships with died violently - they were often shot feuding over her.

What are some prize exhibits in the show?
We've got razors that were confiscated from members of Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine's gangs. We have a letter from Louisa Collins who was the last woman hanged in New South Wales, written from Darlinghurst Gaol. And we also have some original lobby cards from movies like The Postman Always Rings Twice - luscious Lana Turner looking suitably evil.

Femme Fataleis now on at the Justice & Police Museum until 18 Apr 2010

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