Lana Clarkson, a moderately successful B movie hottie moving into middle age, had recently begun working at the Sunset Strip House of Blues as a ticket taker and hostess in an effort to get her career back on track. AP writes:

"She wasn't thrilled to have people from the industry see her doing that, but she thought it was a good step to get back into the mainstream," said her neighbor, Paul Pietrewicz. "It wasn't exactly what she wanted to do, but she thought she could meet the right person."

Which was apparently not Phil.

Police think legendary rock producer Phil Spector murdered a B-movie actress in the foyer of his hilltop home just hours after meeting her at the Sunset Strip blues club where she worked as a hostess, sources said on Tuesday.

Spector, a reclusive eccentric with a fondness for guns, allegedly killed Lana Clarkson with a single shot after they returned to his 33-room mock castle in the Los Angeles suburb of Alhambra from the House of Blues early on Monday morning, sources close to the case told Reuters.

Tall, blonde, beautiful and curvaceous, Clarkson was Hollywood dream material, but it didn't turn out that way - the best she could do was become "Barbarian Queen":

She was discovered by B-movie king Roger Corman and starred in a series of films that made her a semi-cult figure. She played a super-heroine called "Barbarian Queen," a character Corman said was the model for TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess."

"Lana was a beautiful woman, a wonderful actress, and an adventurous spirit," Corman said Tuesday in a statement. "Always brave, she performed all of her own stunts, and showed unusual fortitude and athleticism in her horseback riding and fight sequences."

Clarkson had her own Web site and a company called Living Doll Productions. She also had appeared in many commercials and often made personal appearances. As "Barbarian Queen," she appeared at comic book and pop culture conventions.

Even so, she lived in a small house in Venice:

Three flower bouquets and a burning candle were at the doorstep Tuesday of Clarkson's modest one-story house along the canals in the Venice area of Los Angeles. Several cactus plants and a statue of an angel decorated the porch.

"The Clarkson family would like to express their deepest appreciation to Lana's extended family, friends and fans for the outpouring of love and support that they have shown during this extremely difficult time," her family said in a statement released Tuesday night.

The full statement, photo galleries, a filmography, bio, and most poignant, photos from her January appearance at the "Vamps/Monsters Among Us Convention," where she appeared at the Golden Apple Comics booth are all at her website. She is seen brandishing swords and posing with the civilians. There are also photos or her appearance at last year's Grammys - she won't make it this year.