Plum role again

Press, 21 February 1987, Page 19

Plum role again

Hilary Timmins has, once again, landed the plum role as hostess for “It’s in the Bag” which screens on Saturday evenings at 7.30 on Two. The producer, Ricky Stratful, describes her as “the girl-next-door type.” “Hilary has the image that most parents throughout the country could associate with and that was the image I was after,” he says. He is pleased, too, with the rapport between Hilary and the show host, John Hawkesby, in the last series.

“They spark off each other and it is a delight to watch,” he says. John Hawkesby was also impressed with Timmins.

“She’s fabulous,” he says. “A good sense of humour, very bubbly, very vibrant. Hilary is very easy to work with.” Stratful first spotted Hilary Timmins two years ago when she was an entrant in the “Miss Auckland” pageant. He asked her to audition for last year’s show. Timmins left Penrose High School after a year in the seventh form and went on to Auckland University which "needless to say, I never finished.” In 1984, she began work as a tourist. officer for Paketoa Island, before, in 1985, embarking on a professional modelling career.

She worked with Japanese and American film crews, did several commercials, photographic work and many fashion parades. She also won two beauty pageant titles — “Miss West Auckland” and second runner-up in “Miss Auckland.” When the last series of “Its in the Bag” finished, Hilary continued her modelling work.

Her involvement last year with the prestigious Benson and Hedges Fashion Awards meant working for designers such as Konstantina Moutos, Kevin Berkhan, Patrick Steel, Colin Cole and Warden Neil. She also had the privilege of working with Pierre Cardin during his visit to New Zealand in October.

“I guess I will always do modelling. I like fashion parade work because I like dealing with the public. Most people think modelling is a glamorous job but there is more to it than looking pretty. I put a lot of ❖ork into it and it saps your energy — it is very hard to look-your best all the time.”

Relaxing does not come easy for Hilary but when she has time she likes dancing, swimming and horse-riding, and says she enjoys all kinds of music except hard rock and punk.