Evening star., 1933-05-08
Benefit Role Gave Diana
Wynyard Her Real Chance
Star of "Cavalcade" and Other Pictures Tells How
Single Performance of The Devil
Passes" Started Her Career.

was believed wise for me to have q pro-
fesslon in case no one would desire to
marry me-"
But she went on to admit she had
desired to be an actress ever since the
f1rst time she portrayed Queen Elizabeth
IN the nursery. She's a quiet-eyed,
thorough sort Of person, the type that
cannot be turned from an objective
once it has been sighted. She scored a
thrilling juvenile success in a school
play, so complete a success that her
parents, sensible folk, decided such tai
ent should be given its opportunity.
When her academic education was COM
pleted she sought instruction in dra-
matics. She doesn't say who the
teacher was, but whoever It was, was
good. Her assured mannerisms' her
m0dulated voice and her delicacy Of
facial expression were not created by
village amateur
Her debut was inauspicious She was
q guest in a cabaret scene in The
Grand Duchesse" Young Diana got
secret satisfaction in noticing she
walked on and of the stage with a
more assured poise and less self f-con-
scious grace than did the leading wom-
an. She had been on the same stage
with professional actors and she knew
she had nothing to fear.
From her extra bit, she obtained an
inconspicuous place in a travelling rep
ertoire company, and for 40 weeks she
toured England. Her adaptability land
ed her in second companies on tour.
There are tricks that one must master
to be favorite In second company
which the premiere performers in Lon
don or New York never dream of. Then
Walter Hackett produced a play called
Sorry You've Been Troubled" and gave
her the leading woman's role. It was
not an important play. but 1t was of
fearful consequence to Diana. She put
everything she had into it and waited
for results. They were slow In coming,
and when they came they were slight.
The sum of them was an invitation to
take the lead in a benefit performance
of The Devil Passes" The play was
to be given only one night.
That part was the sort Of thing she
had been dreaming Of. In that single
night she realized all her ambitions in
the theater. When the final curtain
had fallen, 1t was with sadness she saw
the scenery taken down. Reluctantly
she went to her dressing room and re-
moved the costume that had brought
her so much happiness. She seemed
W Uc ldyulk dSlOC dCIlCSCuACAls oo SAS
donned her costume for the street.
Beneath the light Of the stage
entrance she saw the manager stand
ing. He bowed and removed his hat.
IF you ever decide to produce this
play" she exclaimed, promise me that
you will consider me for the lead"
He held her hand q moment.
considering you for the lead" he
said, has just about made me decide
to produce this play"
He did produce it and it was "The
Devil Passes" that carried Diana Wyn-
yard to Broadway. There the per-
formance in that part led her to Hol-
lywood for "Rasputin" and "Caval-
cade."
On that one benefit performance she
built career.
$50 you see," she says. "I'm just an
actress working at my job; there's
nothing to tell about me, really"
If the latest gossip, that Norma
Shearer's husband, Irving Thalberg, is
to be eased out of Metro Goldwyn, is
true, Diana Wynyard doubtless will be
groomed for Norma's place. Some be-
lieve the grooming already has begun.
(Copyright, 1898. by North American News.
paper Alliance, Incl