Evening star., 1942-02-08
Part the Gamin, Part the Sophisticate
That's Diana, Latest of the Fabulous Barrymores
To Appear the Hollywood Scene
By Mayme Ober Peak.
HOLLYWOOD

HOLLYWOOD.
Diana Barrymore is the Nvest
wire to hit Hollywood In many
moons. Even if she had been born
Sally Smith she would have gone
places fast, because she's got what
it takesi
I sensed 1t the moment I heard
her running up the steps to keep
her appointment with me in the
Grosvenor House apartment where
she had moved that day from q
hotel. I knew it when she threw
open the door and in that delight
full, throaty voice of hers said:
"Oh, please excuse me for being
late. Walter kept me at the studio"
producer Walter Wanger, if you
please. Diana quickly had adopted
Hollywood's flrSt-name ways) Il
hope you didn't mind waiting"
No, I hadn't minded. For had
been charmingly entertained by
Diana's companion, a tall, dark
French woman with classic features.
She told me she had known Dianas
mother for years and had chap
eroned Diana in Paris and on other
trips. In black satin and pearls,
Mile. Vallas lent atmosphere to the
living room, totally impersonal ex-
cept for its big jars OF red and
yellow roses. She glowed when
Diana rushed into the room and
said, Hello, Bunny"
This fourth generation Of the
stages royal family was picture in
navy blue SlackS, trinity tailored to
her slim figure. She wore stunning
gold bracelets with diamond clasps
and lapel pin to match. Her feet,
incased in No. sandals, were
propped up on the coffee table as
we talked She has an electric per-
sonality-part gamin, part the So
phisticate.
Even, q Barrymore.
Diana has dark brown wind
blown hair, sparkling brown eyes
and an aura of enchantment. She
has every sense of drama in her
walk, in her hands, and the grace
of her body. She is the theater-
personifled!
But even q beautiful Barrymore
has to be remolded to Hollywood
specifications. Diana told me that
when she reported to the makeup
department at Universal Studio:
They said I had poisonality,' but
then took one look at my hair and
said, Bad permanent Front
teeth too pointed They had to be
filed down. I had that done today,
and I might add it was extremely
painful. Now they're making caps
for them" (Shooting on Eagle
Squadron" had to be postponed 10
days until Diana's dental work was
done. What price HollywoodD
The first thing I did when I
reached the studio?" Diana asked.
We'll, I met my director, Mr..
Lubin. Then I was taken to the
wardrobe department to be fitted for |
one of those dummy figures. I got |
into canvas strait jacket. They |
poured some stuff over it and when |
it was dry they slit it down the |
back.
81 got fitted for the uniform I'm |
to wear in the picture and tested |
for my hat and black Isle stockings |
-. I'm really going to look charm
in in that getup. My friends will |
say, Look at her; that's why she |
went to Hollywood!'
Permitted Play.
IT always knew I'd get out here
to Hollywood sooner or later.
made every move to keep away,
which is what they like. Three years
was approached by Fox but wasn't
interested. I was then in summer
stock. Columbia wired me -. Mr..
Zanuck and Mr.. Schenck wanted
me to work for them. But turned
them down because they wouldn't
let me split my time between the
stage and screen. They said they |
couldn't build me up as q star and |
then let me get away.
"I accepted Walter Wanger's |
contract because it was the only |
one that offered me deal whereby
I could go back to New York for a
play every year. I had gotten my
self an agent and told him that if |