Not taking any nonsense from anyone, talented actress Pamala Suzette Grier (1949-) was THE action heroine. Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Grier wanted a medical career before becoming the 1970s queen of exploitation films.

As characters with the unforgettable names of Coffy and Foxy Brown, she was black, bad, and beautiful. Grier radiated strength. Men feared and desired her.

"Every guy growing up in the '70s had a thing for Pam. She was the foxiest lady on the screen," praised director Quentin Tarantino who wrote Jackie Brown (w/ Robert De Niro, 1997) with the foxy lady in mind.

Grier's in-your-face attitude factored into her 1988 battle with an invasive cancer. "They gave me 18 months to live," she recalled. "My doctor cried on the phone when he told me the news." Thankfully, she beat the disease with the combination of radiation, Chinese herbs, and guts.

With the positive spirit of survival, Grier celebrated life. "I'm a big child at heart. I think it's important to stay that way and not lose the wonder of life," she admitted.

After over 40 feature films, the classy and intelligent Grier is still going strong. “Me, sexy? I’m just plain ol’ red beans and rice," she said modestly. "Some day I want to play a grandmother. And a foxy one at that!"

Don't take it if you don't want it.