I was a stand-in for Lauren Bacall. It was maybe 1995? My roommate in Boerum Hill was working on a PSA for, I believe, the Citrus Growers of America?, and offered me a supporting role opposite the throaty screen legend--as I recall, I was to portray a stagehand sweeping the floor. When I arrived on set, though, I learned my part had been cut. Since they had to pay me anyway, they were wondering if I would mind sticking around and letting them deploy my otherwise useless physical presence to focus the lights on, while they waited for their star to arrive. I did not mind. (I hope it says more about her imaginative stature than mine, that they had me stand on apple boxes to approximate her height. When she finally swept in, complete with attitudinal entourage, they had to relight everything, because in fact I am taller, not shorter, than Lauren Bacall.) I introduced myself to Ms. Bacall as her stand-in; she cast her gimlet eye upon me and pronounced—thrillingly—“You dont look anything like me at all. My actorly effort at banter produced, What do you mean? Ive based my entire career on my resemblance to you! Somehow further leveling her gaze, she brought the conversation to a close: Then you havent worked very much, darling, have you. It was a complete experience.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 18:21:02 +0000
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