TV hit by actors’ disagreements

Press, 16 July 1979, Page 15

TV hit by actors’ disagreements

NZPA Staff Correspondent The 8.8. C. has cancelled a major drama series on the life of Britain’s first woman member of Parliament, Lady Nancy Astor, because of a dispute with the actors’ union, Equity, over the casting of an American actress in the title role.

The planned nine-part series about the Americanborn politician would have provided parts for 200 actors in Britain, the 8.8. C. has claimed. Filming was due to begin in a few weeks.

It is the latest incident in a series of show business rows between the British and American actors' unions. There has been controversy for some time about the reluctance of these unions to allow a free or liberal exchange of actors. Elaine Paige, the star of the hit British musical “Evita,” was refused permission to appear in the American production of the show earlier this year. The British union retaliated byrefusing the cast of "Dancin',” a hit musical in New York, permission to work in London. The 8.8. C. was also unsuccessful in their attempts to persuade Equity to allow an American actor, Earl Jones, to play Othello in its Shakespeare series. The head of 8.8. C. television drama, Shaun Sutton, told the “Guardian” they were too close to the filming date to re-cast the role of Lady Astor. “I remain convinced that a

British actress could not play this essentially American role,” he said. He attacked Equity for banning the American actress chosen for the role, Blythe Danner, when it had allowed another American actress, Cynthia Harris, to play Mrs Simpson in the t Avision drama series “Edward and Mrs Simpson.” The part of Lady Nancy Astor was first offered to the American actress Meryl Streep, star of the film “The Deer Hunter," but she had to turn it down because off previous engagements. • Blythe Danner, the actress | at the centre of the present' storm, was reported to be! “very upset” over Equity’s! decision. Although she has I won high praise from critics I as a stage, film and tele-1 vision actress, the part of! Lady Nancy could have! been the biggest break in I her career.

Equity’s general, secretary, Peter Piouvioz, ' said the union look the . view that there were actresses in Britain who could have played the part. He claimed it was unfair to draw comparisons between this latest issue and the union’s allowing Cynthia Harris to play the part of Mrs Simpson. “It was important that Cynthia Harris looked like the person she was playing. There are still a great many people alive who remember what Mrs Simpson looked like,” he said. “But who could say there were a great many people who knew what Nancy Astor looked like.” Lady Nancy Astor became Ithe member of Parliament for Plymouth in 1919 and represented the ward for 26 years. Born in the United States in 1879, she came to London in 1903 after a di!vorce. She died in 1964.