MIRIAM HOPKINS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23201, 27 May 1937, Page 17

MIRIAM HOPKINS

If the " inside story " behind the rise to stardom of so many of the highlights of the screen to-day sounds at times like a modern version of the old Cinderella story, perhaps it is because the goddess of luck seems to play such an important part in their ever finding themselves in pictures at all. For Miriam Hopkins would probably never have become a film star had it not been for a twice-broken ankle. Her earliest ambition being to pursue a literary career, Miriam studied so hard towards this end that she was obliged to take up dancing as some form of relaxation. Two hours before she was due to take her part as a dancer in a play produced by her school's dramatic society Miriam slipped and broke her ankle. Returning to her studies and securing her literary diploma at the end of two years, she attempted to wrest a living from New York publishers and editors, who, however, seemed strangely inappreciative of her writing ability. In despair she sold and pawned all her available possessions, and invested in a course of dancing lessons. On the eve of her sailing for South America in the chorus of ballet company, Miriam fell and shattered her ankle for the second time. It meant the end of all her dancing aspirations, but within a month the would-be ballerina was touring variety theatres in a dramatic sketch. Her part was a small one, but it was sufficient to catch the eye of a talent scout, and from then on her future was assured. She had become one of America's leading stage actresses before Hollywood claimed her, and since that time has never once looked back, to-day holding the reputation of being one of the most intelligent and hardest-worked stars on the screen. Miss Hopkins will be seen to-morrow in her first British picture, "Men Are Not Gods."