Evening star., 1942-12-12


and good looks she'll make fortune
for YOU"
Sorry" repeated Mr.. Smith, "but
my daughter is only 16 and so far
I've been able to support her, and
I want her to finish school, and
furthermore I'm her legal guardian
and If you get her contract I'll sue
you"
But she's terrific" walled the
agent.
IF she's terrific now she'll be
more terrific in four years when
she's had four more years of edu-
cation" concluded the father Of
Alexis.
High School Student.
II only heard about this CONVEX
sation two weeks ago." Alexis tells
me at lunch in the green room of
the Warner Bros. studio, where
Miss Smith is now a full -fiedged
star. And" she continues, Il can't
thank my father enough for pre-
venting me from going into the
movies at l6. BY this time I prob
ably would have been through in
pictures and every one would be
good and tired of my face.
But If had known at the time
what dad did I'd have been furious
with him. I was crazy to act and,
boy, did I think I was a Duse and
a Bernhardt rolled into one!"
At the time Of her first film offer
the blond, blue-eyed Alexis was
student at Hollywood High School.
Among her schoolmates was a cer-
tain Lana Turner, who, according to
Alexis, caused quite a sensation,
with all the boys in love with her
and all the girls envious of her"
Alexis studied dancing and piano
as a child. At IL she wanted to be
ballerina and at IA a concert pian-
ist. She performs well today as
either. She decided to be an actress
when she learned that for q fall play
at Hollywood High the leading lady
had her nose remodeled for her
role-"a part which wanted madly,
and I didn't have to have my nose
remodeled," says Alexis. 1t was then
she entered a Statewide drama
contest and was spotted by the agent
referred to above.
II did q scene from Elizabeth the
Queen which was probably horrible,
but the agent and both agreed
was wonderful" she tells me.
Discovered by Aren't.
The agent, hearing the fighting
words of Mr.. Smith, was heard of no
more. and the disappointed girl en-
rolled at college and majored In
drama.
Every one said I was sensa tional,
which I readily believed, and de-
cided to 60 to New York and be q
sensation on the stage" Her drama
coach then told her: You're lazy;
you're vain; you're too much inter-
ested In boys; you'll never be worth
q dime as an actress"
So what happened? Alexis had
the lead in the college performance
of "The Night of January 18TH" and
another agent, and q good one
Victor Orsatti-saw her In the play.
He, too, said he could make her q
star in one year. This time her
father gave his blessing. In one
year Alexis was q star.
That's why I'm not good person
to interview" she says. Because I
didn't starve In q garret. or anything
interesting like that. Mr.. Orsatti
took me to Warmers, made q test
and was signed IS stock girl at
SIS . week"
New Earns S5ee Week.
Alexis Is now earning about $500
. week. r saw my name on the
star list yesterday and 1t looks won-
derful," she said.
The raise to stardom was the re-
suit Of her work in The Constant
Nymph." That's the picture" says
Alexis. that took me out or the
les-Art class" It's her fayorite Aim,
not hecause of emoting With Charles
Boyer, but for the reason that Direc-i
Tor 1dmund 0orlding took : hig
chanee cn me. and taught NJ q
much. /