Actress Rejected Secretarial Job

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32394, 5 September 1970, Page 3

Actress Rejected Secretarial Job

Barbara Stephens did not like her job as a secretary, so she quit. Now she is the “Secretary Bird” in the play of that name which stars Patrick Macnee, the debonaire “Steed” in the television series, the “Avengers.”

Barbara, a 21-y ear-old blonde, gained her first interest in acting at Adelaide Girls’ High School in Australia, where she played Cecily in “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

But she did not go straight from school into acting—she got a job as a secretary. She soon decided this was not the job for her and decided to embark on a theatrical career. In just over a year as a professional actress, she has been successful in television, radio and live theatre. Now she comes to Christchurch in "The Secretary Bird,” the comedy hit which will open for a season at the Theatre Royal on Monday, September 21. Already there has been a good response to the contest being run by “The Press” to find the best “Secretary Bird” in Christchurch, but there must be many more firms with pretty “birds” in the office. We are looking for a girl who is young, pretty, wellgroomed, with poise and good deportment and most important, who works in an office. Entrants, or their firms, should send us a photograph, or, if a photograph is not available, telephone Mrs P. Hullett at “The Press” (69-799 extension 808) and arrangements will be made to photograph the contestant. Starting on Friday, a daily selection of entrants’ photo-

Hijacker Insane One of three armed men who hijacked an airliner to Dubrovnik, Jugoslavia, on] Monday was a mental patient,! the Algerian news agency has! reported. The three hijackers] are believed to be still in Jugoslavia.—Algiers, Sept. 3. 1

graphs will be published. The names of the six finalists will; be announced on September 18 and Patrick Macnee will choose the likeliest “Secretary Bird” from their photographs. The contest winner will receive tickets for two as a special guest at the opening night of “The Secretary Bird” and an invitation to attend an after-show function where she will meet Patrick

(Macnee. She will also have ; the use of a car for the even-I ing. Each of the six finalists will < receive a presentation set of a Sheaffer pen and pencil, i AU photographs sent to | “The Press” must be posted to arrive no later than 10 a.m. lon September 17, and should be clearly labelled with Iname, address, and telephone (number of the entrant. With the photographs

(should also be sent a brief) biography, giving the entrant's position and the name | of the firm for which she) works, her age, interests and! i ambitions. Entries should be mailed to “Secretary Bird” Contest, c/o. “The Press,” P.O. Box--1005, Christchurch. A stamped, addressed envelope ! of suitable size should be included if the photograph is ;|to be returned.