PHYLLIS ELGAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20922, 11 July 1931, Page 10 (Supplement)

PHYLLIS ELGAR.

SYDNEY GIRL'S SUCCESS.

CONTRACT *FOR SCREEN WORK.

Phyllis Elgar, the Australian actress, who recently signed her- first motion picture contract with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, has literally travelled' far in search of success. Her peregrinations have led her from" Australia to London,* frSta London to New York, and now from New York to Hollywood. In a neat, workman-like scrap-book, containing her press notices, the bad as well as the good, Miss Elgar, has recorded the productions in which she has appeared. Starting off in Australia, tha scrap-book records her appearance in five amateur productions. Her name was Pearl Appleton at that-time. Then in the middle of the scrap-book, it suddenly changes to Bonita Appleton, and since her arrival in • New York, her name has been Phyllis Elgar. The first role recorded in this neat scrap-book is Maria "in " Twelfth". Night." Then she played Hernia* in " Midsummer Night's Dream," Lydia-Languish in Sheridan's "Rivals," and the Princess Nai in " The Prince Who Was a Piper." That ended her amateur career. .. . The scrap-book gives no indication of how Miss Elgar chances to turn to professional acting* for a living, but under the heading, " Professional Appearance, she lists the part of Molly in John Galsworthy's " Old English," as her first role. Then came Alison in Anatole France's " The Man Who Married a Dumb Wife," Sylvia in " The Philanderer," by Bernard Shaw, and Leo in "Getting Married," by the same playwright. At this time, she was playing with the Professional Repertory Company of Australia. In other plays in which she appeared with the Australian company were ' Bird in Hand," and " Lap of the Gods. Miss Elgar then went to London and Played irf " The Wrecker;" This was her only London appearance. From London she • went to New York tp play in " Pigs," .by Lenora Hastings. Last < season she was seen on Broadway in The First Mrs. Fraser," by St. John Irvine, , and her notices in the New York press, to judge from the samples in the scrapbook, were-exceptionally .fine Now that Miss Elgar is a film actress, one may wfell expect her scrap-book of critical comments to grow to large proportion's. For Miss Elgar, a brunette, has a finely-featured,'; intelligent face, which should be as distinct a'novelty on the screen as were Norma Shearer's refined features .when she first commenced motion picture work.