Michael Wilding set for ‘Dallas’

Press, 21 August 1989, Page 10

Michael Wilding set for ‘Dallas’

NZPA-AP Hollywood Michael Wilding jun. made his film debut as a street urchin when his mother, Elizabeth Taylor, played Kate in “Taming of the Shrew,” in Italy. Richard Burton, his stepfather, at the time, played Petruchio in the 1967 film. “I ran alongside Petruchio’s horse on the way to the wedding,” said Wilding, who has just joined the cast of the television soap opera, “Dallas.” “My brother, Christopher Wilding, was also an extra. I had braces on my teeth and we wore little

codpieces and velvet caps. We kept shouting, ‘Petruchio, Petruchio’.” After that beginning, Wilding’s acting was put on hold for many years in favour of education. His main role so far has been that of Jesus Christ in the an American television mini-series, “A.D.” The son of Taylor and the late Michael Wilding sen. has his mother’s violet eyes and dark complexion. His black hair has streaks of grey. Wilding will play an art dealer, Alex Barton, in the new “Dallas” season. “He’s kind of a Henry

Higgins because he finds a young artist and sees a great potential in her,” he said of Barton. “He feels he can steer her in the right direction to become a great artist. She’s a primitive artist, like Grandma Moses.” The young artist is Callie Harper Ewing, the wife of J.R. Ewing, played by Cathy Podewell. A romantic interest develops between the two. Larry Hagman, of course, is J.R. “I haven’t had any scenes with Larry,” Wilding said. “So far, J.R. doesn’t know anything about us or he isn’t in-

terested. enough. There’s such a contrast between Barton and Callie. He’s incredibly worldly and sophisticated and she’s a country girl.

“I think he feels he can steer her into becoming a worldly and stylish person with a bit of tutoring. He wants to change her. Personally, I’d leave her the way she is. She’s a very sweet lady.” More recently, Wilding had a small role in one of his mother’s television projects, “Sweet Bird of Youth.” He plays a movie producer who tries to talk his mother, playing a fad-

ing actress, into working in a film. "In the scene we’re on the telephone, so I just played one side of the conversation,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the scene put together. When I got the part I thought it would be fun to work with her, but I guess she filmed her part several weeks later. I’ve yet to act in a scene with her.”

Wilding and his wife, Brooke Palance, an actress and the daughter of the actor, Jack Palance, recently made Taylor a grandmother again, with a

son, Tarquin. Wilding has two daughters, Laela and Naomi, from a previous marriage.

He moved from . New York to Los Angeles recently to find work, and won the role in “Dallas” after an audition.

Asked about the advantages or disadvantages of famous parents, Wilding said, "I really don’t think it opened any doors. I think it got me some interviews. If I was doing an off-Broadway show it would arouse some interest. But I don’t think it

got me any roles, which is the way I want it. I’d hate to go through my career thinking my parts came because of my parents.”

Wilding grew up mostly in Europe and attended Swiss and English boarding schools. He had a tutor when he went on location with his parents.

“I grew up on locations,” he said. “I still love locations. I remember being on the sets for ‘Cleopatra.’ They had some great naval battles. That was fun for a nine-year-old.”