Peer’s Eldest Son Up and Against It

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 149, 25 June 1937, Page 8

Peer’s Eldest Son Up and Against It

HOPES FOR JOB ON FILMS. LONDON, May 16. Lord Naas, eldest son and heir of the Earl of Mayo, has two shillings in the bank —just to keep his account open for the day he gets a job on the films. Capital for that job is his thin, handsome, Irish face, a diploma from a film acting school, five neatly-folded suits, and £3 in cash. He is living in a tiny bed-sitting-room in a Pimlico boarding house. Recently he gave his landlady notice, unable to pay another week's rent. “It looks like tho Embankment," he said. For six months he has been studying a film course, and appeared on the screen for one minute in the GaumoutBritish film, “The Gap." He had to register horror. His Lessons. “Look," he said, showing a roughly typed folder of instructions to his Lordship for registering pleasure, joy, alarm, sorrow. * ‘ These are my lessons. 1 bought one course, but could not continue for a second. Fortunately the school was impressed with my work, and offered me a scholarship." Heir to one of Ireland's oldest aristocratic seats in the County of Kildare, Lord Naas has taken the family name of Bourlto for a surname. “I don't w*ant anyone to think I am pressing my birth for advantages. As 'Arry Bourke I earned 45/- labouring, but my health gave in. You have to be used to it all your life to stand such work. “Then I got a job as a salesman, £>ut that needed time to work up a good commission, and I w r as too hard up to go on. For two days and nights 1 walked around the park, without food or a bed. I really am hard up and worried about a job . . . yet my friends won’t believe me. They think I am joking or just near broke." On tho mantlepiece tvere invitations from people of title and influence to At Homes, or sherry, 6.0. Beside them was a meat pie, his lordship's lunch. No Work Offering. Lord Naas taught himself typing and book keeping, but still could find no work. Then someone told him that he had a film face. “I took a course in acting and makeup. I can manage dialect—l have the part of a small farm labourer in an amateur show in a few months —they say I'll bring the house down." Lord Naas is registered as ‘ * Ulrick Bourke" with several film agencies. He describes himself as 6ft., slim figure, hair slightly grey, eyes grey-green, wardrobe complete. He recently took singing lessons. Apart from his small film part, which he hopes is the beginning of a career, Lord Naas has appeared in amateur shows. He took the part of a duke last year in a pageant, was an usher at a recent operetta. “ Unfortunately this does not keep me. 1 have to look for odd jobs to bring in a little capital. “It is not easy to get casual work with a title—l hide it. 4 ‘ But acting is my future. I am often asked what is my best part, but I can play anything, i could be a sinister butler or a father, I think." Lord Naas has been promised a small part in a film which may be produced in September. In tho meantime ho would be content with a job in a shop or an office. “A friend heiped me a few days ago, otherwise I would have nothing. I think it is just that people don't believe I am really hard up. < < There is no society to help penniless sons of peers." Lord Naas watched the Coronation from the kerb-edge.