LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!

Story contd.

Lots of photographic work was coming in but Paula thought I would have more chance of being ’spotted’ on a film set so I became a ‘special’, which is a step up from an extra and required auditions until you were known. I had worked with lots of ‘resting’ actors on photo shoots and they were in a cleft stick - not able to get an acting job until they joined Equity and unable to join Equity until they had a job.

Here was I, now made to join, and given the precious Equity card. Ironic, because I had always been against the idea of unions especially in the nursing profession. The thought of a nurse going on strike was abhorrent to me. Things have changed a great deal in the last fifty years- not always for the better.

The first film job was as a glamorous sixth former in one of the St Trinian’s films. We spent ages in make-up having false eyelashes applied and dressed in skimpy gym-slips and black silk stockings. My hair was short and curly so I was dubbed ‘Bubbles’. We were given boxes containing our lunch and I was the last to leave. The grounds were very pretty – I think it was Shepperton – I could see a group of people sitting outside a summer house so I thought I would have a quiet lunch on my own.

I settled under a tree and opened the box which was full of goodies. No sooner was my mouth full of salmon and cucumber than the whole group seemed to be shouting and gesticulating and one of them came running towards me. It seemed all was ready for the shot and they were waiting for Bubbles to pour the tea. By the time I had teetered there on my high heels the whole set was rocking with laughter which helped to calm my nerves. Maybe they should have named me Dopey!

The scene was outside the summer house where a group of teachers were being served tea by the sixth formers. Having been trained over the last few months to freeze for the camera I found it difficult at first to actually move whilst being filmed. There would be a little bit of action and then long, long periods of hanging around. At one time I felt Joyce Grenfell staring at me and started twisting my wedding ring round.

‘That’s telepathy!’ she proclaimed with her lovely brilliant smile.
‘I was just thinking - Bubbles can’t possibly be married – she’s far too young!’

I heard one of the girls say
‘She ought to be in films with that bone structure!’ and another said

‘Oh she’s not interested.’

I realised I should be careful what I said - Paula would not be pleased to hear I was not interested in a film career!!

During another quiet spell Joyce was advancing towards us using her hockey mistress walk which kept her in character.

‘Oh God not that walk again!’ said one of the male actors. Who said women were the catty ones?

I was starting my ’fifteen minutes of fame’. I was interviewed as me, by various magazines –and asked to judge competitions. One of them was’ bonniest baby competition’ – not to be recommended – you make one friend and thirty enemies. Even my mother was interviewed by the local rag and managed to find a photograph for them to use which made me look 50. Thanks Mum!

I was working hard and my bank balance was growing which I really enjoyed. William had arranged for us to go on holiday, sailing in a small wooden boat from Maldon in Essex. Two weeks of being able to slob around without make-up or stilettos. Lovely!