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| Julie
Parrish has appeared on 'Star Trek'
with William Shatner and the crew of the original Starship Enterprise, 'Beverly
Hills 90210' with Jason "Where's my crash helmet" Priestly, and even opposite
Elvis in the movie-classic 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style.' And now, she's on
Celebritymate! Of course, Julie wasn't always involved in the glitzy world of Hollywood and movies...  JP: Well, in the early 60's I won the title 'Young Model of the Year.' The top prize was a role in a Paramount Studios' movie! The studio publicity department and Patricia Stevens' modelling schools had connected to publicize the school as well as the black and white film 'It's Only Money,' starring Jerry Lewis. I was brought to Hollywood, along with two other finalists, and I was actually surprised that I won. I was sure the girl from Memphis would take that honor. She was tall, blonde and self assured. As it turned out, Mr. Lewis was elected to judge who would be the winner. We were each interviewed by him and - I have no idea why he chose me! He never told me, and I didn't think to ask... I was just in shock. I never dreamed that I would end up in Hollywood, as I didn't think it an option or possible. It never entered my mind; my goal was art school. TO: So did it help that it was the 'swingin' sixties, baby'? JP: It helped that the competition was not as intense as it is now for young people. Not as many came to Hollywood then. Now it seems that just about every 'good-looking' kid in the free world tries their hand at it, and - due to the impersonal way of the corporate heads who now own Hollywood - Hollywood seems to have become rather cut-throat. As for the 'swingin' sixties' ...it's true the sixties were a time of love-ins and more open sexuality than our parent's time. Drugs played a part in that. The music of the day played a part as well. It was the dawn of 'rock and roll,' a wonderful time to be a teen. Elvis did his part with his sexy movements while performing on stage. We went crazy with that, and in the process scared a lot of our parents! My Dad called him 'Elvis the pelvis.' TO: What was Elvis like to work with? JP: Elvis was a dream to work with, a perfect gentleman... unlike some others of that time. He knew his lines and he was funny. TO: I have heard that he is quite the kisser (from Celebritymate's August interviewee of the month, Barbara Leigh)... True?  JP: Well, because he was Elvis Presley, it becomes bigger than life. He was probably no better kisser than most fellas. He wasn't the studied woman-chaser with all the moves down, like the Warren Beattys of his day. He did have very soft lips though... TO: Was 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style' actually shot in Hawaii or a sound-stage in LA? I was just wondering because parts of the film verge on the 'cheesy'... JP: 'Paradise Hawaiian Style' was shot both in Hawaii and on a sound stage at Paramount Studios. The close-ups in the helicopter scene, with Elvis, me and the dogs (TO: it has to be seen to be believed!?), were done in a half-helicopter with stagehands rocking it to appear as if it were moving in the air. I remember having fun with the dogs in that scene... Elvis hated the song he had to sing to me! He laughed a lot about that. TO: Now I'm not a Trekkie but I can totally appreciate the awesomeness of appearing in one of the classic episodes of 'Star Trek'... What was it like being on the Enterprise with the golden oldies: Kirk, Spock and Bones? JP: I feel very fortunate to have been in the classic episode 'The Menagerie.' As you know, it was not expected to be the hit that it became. I actually had no idea of the popularity of the show, because I didn't watch it. I didn't have real good feelings connected with my weeks work on that set. Then, imagine my surprise, years later, when I began to get the first fan mail and photo requests from it! Everyone in the cast was lovely to work with except William Shatner. I didn't find him very professional, and that caused me to dislike the experience. I'd like to add, however, that I don't really know him. It seems that so many have written or said negative things about William Shatner. That must hurt. TO: Did you ever get - ahem - beamed up?  JP: If this is a tongue-in-cheek question, I'll say: "No, thank God." If you are serious, then, I'll just say: "No." TO: As one of the college students in the original 'Nutty Professor,' may I ask if you saw the updated Eddie Murphy film... and if so what did you think? JP: I did see the Eddie Murphy remake, and I think it should have had a different title. I get upset at remakes anyway, and this one was so far from the original that it was ridiculous! The original was a classic. The remake was a joke. TO: On your website, you recall "girls still had to deal with white haired old men chasing us around the audition desks" - was that a day-to-day problem back then? And, from your experience, is it something that girls today don't have to worry about - the old casting couch'? JP: Actually, I don't know how much girls today have to deal with the 'around-the-desk' chasers. I do know that today girls are much more sophisticated than we were. As far as it being a day-to-day problem in my 'prime time,' no it wasn't. Most producers and casting people were just doing their jobs and casting the best they knew how. I experienced a few - Hal Wallace, producer of 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style,' for one! But for the most part, the chasers went after the 'big titty' girls. I was an A minus cup with about three pairs of falsies put on me by the wardrobe department when I worked. Us smaller girls wore the 'push in/push ups' in the 60's. TO: Wait a sec, if you really, really wanted a part, you would let the guy catch you? What a thought! JP: Yes, my my, what a thought indeed. One of the reasons I never did another picture for Hal Wallace was because I wouldn't let him catch me! I was disgusted by the thought. He called me every evening when we were on location in Hawaiian. I made excuses until he finally said, "You'd better think again, little girl." Well, I still told him that I wasn't able to have dinner with him - or maybe I was to be his dinner - the thought gags me still. I have made my share of mistakes, but that wasn't one of them. TO: You also mention an agent asking you to send cocaine to 'thank' the casting partners for putting you in a show. Those were some ugly times. Do you believe Hollywood today is different? Have they reformed, or do these games still go on? Am I a bit naïve!? JP: I don't think that people in Hollywood do as much cocaine anymore, but I may be a bit naïve. I would hope that the younger people in those positions today saw the danger and pain involved, and made other choices. I don't really know though. My finger is no longer on the pulse. TO: You've survived ovarian cancer twice. Do you attribute your being here today to your spiritual studies? JP: I most definitely attribute my having survived ovarian cancer twice to my spiritual studies. To any cancer patient I would say, "Get the stress out of your life even it means removing people." Take time for yourself. Know your power. You can create things with your attitudes. You get what you believe. The brain is just a computer. Reprogram. TO: How is your one-woman show coming along? I notice you've done a fair bit of theatrical work... JP: My one-woman show is coming along slowly. I don't have a lot of discipline sometimes. I'm working on that. I love the theatre though, that is where I began. There is nothing like the thrill, the rush and the magic of a live audience. I just closed on a production of 'The Vagina Monologues' - it was a wonderful experience. It made me remember other times and other plays when I was flying every night! TO: I'm a closet 'Beverly Hills 90210' fan - what was it like hanging out at the 'Peach Pit' where you played Nat's love interest? JP: Actually Nat and Joan got married and had a baby. And that was the end of the story. Go figure! It was great fun being back in front of the camera on 90210. I felt grateful and thankful that I got to do that. The kids - well they weren't exactly kids - were great to me. I laughed a lot... and that's the measure for me. I was also working as a full time, on-staff counsellor at a shelter for battered women and their children at the time. I worked two sixteen hour overnight shifts and a bit more in the day, so that I could go on auditions and work as an actress. Often I would go from one job to the other without any sleep... At the same time I was taking care of an invalid mother... It's no wonder I got cancer. TO: Did you get to kiss Jason Priestly too? JP: Don't I just wish that I got to kiss Jason Priestly! There were no older woman/younger man storylines going on when I was on the show. Too bad for me. TO: What would you say has been a career highlight for you so far? (there's been so many!) JP: I think having the female lead in a comedy series for CBS, namely 'Good Morning World' in 1967/68 - that was a real highlight. There are a lot of perks that go along with being a star of a nighttime show. Much more than daytime. Actually it was a very good show that still holds up. The writers, Carl Reiner, Sheldon Leonard, Bill Persky and Sam Denoff were the best. Goldie Hawn played my neighbor and best friend. It was her first television role. TO: And what have you got lined up for the future...? JP: Gotta get that one-woman show done, and I start a writing class when I get back to LA. Right now, I'm in Memphis, Tennessee for the 25th anniversary of Elvis' death. I'm speaking at a couple of events and all that goes with the week. The candlelight vigil is a very moving experience. I was here for the 21st with friends Anne Helm, Deborah Walley - I miss her so much - and Cynthia Pepper, all Elvis co-stars. We had a wonderful time. Thanks, Julie and good luck with your show! Visit www.julieparrish.com |
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