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Amanda Blake called Miss Kitty ''liberated''
Blake said the character was the "first fictional libber."
Plenty of Westerns take a woman and force her into the role of damsel in distress. Often, women in Western shows are purely ornamental, cast in a series for the hero to save to prove his bravery and righteousness. However, there are a handful of women in Westerns who make a name for themselves all on their own, the sort of women audiences love.
As much as viewers loved Miss Kitty of Gunsmoke, they certainly loved Amanda Blake that much more. The two women shared more than just a face; Blake shared Miss Kitty's confidence, and her ability to speak frankly. A champion in animal rights, Blake had no problem speaking her mind, no matter who disagreed with her.
Blake was clear that while she and Miss Kitty shared a few key traits, they were, in fact, totally different people. This was only further emphasized when Blake decided to leave the series.
"I'm not Miss Kitty," said Blake during an interview with the Kansas City Star. "I'm Amanda Blake. Miss Kitty has checked the bustles and the curls and I do not play her anymore. I'm Amanda Blake."
That didn't mean that Blake had no respect for Miss Kitty. In fact, the actor actually called her "liberated."
"Kitty was a tremendously liberated person, probably the first fictional libber," said Blake. "Me, I don't know."
While Blake didn't seem to take a hard stance one way or the other, Miss Kitty certainly offered viewers a new idea of what a woman could look like in a Western.
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