The turn of the 20th century was a time when rules for women were many — and Australian movie star Annette Kellerman defied most of them.
"She just was never doing what was expected of her, but she managed to do it with such a flair that she didn't seem to get into too much trouble," says Ms Taylor, who hopes to revive Kellerman's story.
Kellerman was born in Sydney, and from an early age made it clear she wasn't going to follow the trajectory expected of a woman of her time.
Yet by 16, Kellerman held swimming world records and by 19 had moved to London, where she became the first woman to try to swim the English Channel.
When, in the early 1900s, Kellerman had had enough of women's swimwear she adapted a men's swimming costume.
Kellerman is also known as being the first woman to appear nude on film, in the 1916 silent film A Daughter of the Gods.
The film, a three-hour epic, cost $1 million to make.
Kellerman's marketing nous was at least partly responsible for the film's success.
Kellerman lived in Europe, then the United States, before moving back to Australia in the 1930s.
Upon her return to Australia, Kellerman, tongue-in cheek, told a media throng she was thinking of writing a novel but wasn't sure she'd have what it takes.
Ms Taylor explains that Kellerman didn't make the career move from silent movies into 'talkies', which could have something to do with her lack of renown today.