Hysteria goes with the job, says Richard Chamberlain

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 18

Hysteria goes with the job, says Richard Chamberlain

JOANNE WILLS

in Hollywood talks to the television heart-throb

of the sixties, Richard Chamberlain, who will appear on New Zealand screens soon in a mini-series called “Shogun,” a romantic adventure tale of seventeenth-century Japan.

The smooth sixties look ard the bedside manner that made the girls swoon have been replaced by a black beard and a fearsome scowl. For Dr Kildare is all at sea. At 47. bachelor Richard Chamberlain has become Hollywood's hottest property, the star‘of the latest television blood-and-thunder epic.

When it was shown in America, a record 125 million viewers were hooked on "Shogun." the television adaptation of James Clavell's best-selling novel about a seventeenth-century navigator wfw is shipwrecked in Japan.

As a result, the shy Mr Chamberlain is fast becoming the number one Hollywood hearthrob.

“I’ve never enjoyed the hysteria that goes with popular success." he said. "But I guess it goes with the job!" In "Shogun." Chamberlain plays the sea-dog. John Blackthorne. who dons the garb of a Samurai warrior, falls in love, and helps bloodthirsty war-lords stage a military take-over.

The 8.8. C. regards the series as its ace card in the ratings battle, while for Richard Chamberlain it is a return to the hunted . and haunted days of the sixties when girls everywhere looked upon him as their natural prey.. He was once mobbed so violently that shirts were tom from his back and his weekly fan mail was counted in thousands. Although women from 16 to 60 sent him marriage proposals, he has never been over-at-tracted to the notion.

"I’ve always hated contracts of all kind." he explains. "I’m honourable enough to stand on my word. There’s something I’ve never liked about that bit of paper. "I known many women fantasise about me." he says. "Its part of the game, part of the acting. Anyone who is well-known is put on a

pedestal, for many reasons. “It makes true relationships that much more difficult. because you've got to spend such a lot of time getting rid of the illusions. “By nature a serious relationship isn’t serious at the beginning anyway. It’s just fun. But -it can grow into something serious. "Whatever happens. I like remaining good friends. I hate it when people who once loved each other then start tearing each other to pieces.”

There was a time when every new girl in his life was hailed by the media as the one who would finally persuade him to go to the altar.

He and the actress. Gemma Jones, were, for in-

stance, almost inseparable for a while. But he admits: "That’s been over for a long time and we’re still marvellous friends. I was so fond of her . . . and I really like the guy she's now with." Taryn. the daughter of Tyrone Power, met him in Spain and they were soon sharing candlelight dinners in romantic bistros. "She was very young, only 21." he says wistfully. "She’s

beautiful, and talented, but our states of mind just weren't compatible." Perhaps the one who came closest to nailing the elusive star was Joanna Ray. the exwife of Aldo Ray. They first met in London when he was playing "Hamlet" soon after the final episode of Dr Kildare, and they have been friends ever since. "He’s been a wonderful person to me over the

years.” says Joanna, "and he’s been' great with my children by my previous marriage." His comment: "We’ve shared a lot. and it’s brought us very close together."

What kind of woman is he looking for? "A woman who is a professional. one way or another, but not an actress. Marrying an actress would be disastrous. We’d never see each other, never be together. "But if she was a painter, or a sculptress, or a photographer. that would be fine." His appeal has become so universal that even when in Japan, filming "Shogun." he was pursued by numerous women. "Very flattering." he says. "I just didn’t think that sort of thing happened out there."

There were problems on set. too. caused by the fact that few of the Japanese extras spoke English. "W r e had one big sequence at night." he explains, "when I was supposed to be escaping by ship. The scene had to be set up so that, as my boat left harbour, five fishing boats tried to stop us. "At just the right moment I had to say: ’Now!’ and the men in my boat would fire on the fishing boats. "As our boat was charging out to sea. I realised I didn't know when to give the order to fire. So I called to the director: 'When do I say now?’ Maybe you can guess the rest. "The moment the men heard - the word ’Now!’ they began firing, and they didn’t stop until they had used up all their ammunition!” After the adventures in Japan, he played "Hamlet" in New York.

"The fun of acting." he says, "lies in playing different parts, being different people. If you’re just going to play one part all your life, like ’Kildare.' you might just as well sell insurance." Features International