ADMIRAL IN DUCK-POND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 326, 6 January 1937, Page 2

ADMIRAL IN DUCK-POND

NEAGLE PHILOSOPHY Anna Unwilling To Try Hollywood. Anna Neagle is one star who believes in being a big fish in a relatively small pond—and the British pond is good enough for her. She recently went to New York to make a personal appearance at the opening of “The Three Maxims." But she intends to avoid Hollywood like poison. When a film weekly representative saw her down at Pinewood a short time ago—in the red wig and three-and-ninepenny bargain basement frock which she bought for her part in "London Symphony,” Miss Neagle spoke of the very tempting offers she had refused. "Why should I want to go,” she said. “It’s a terrific risk. “Otten they do not understand the British stars they Import; and, if you | make a bad Hollywood film, you are just a ‘flop’ there and lose a lot of ground over here. It isn’t worth it. “Besides, I do not want any more money than I make now. I have quits enough; I am happy working here, and I do no-t think money is everything, do you?" Remarkable words, those—from a film star. “When I travel on the Continent," she went on, “I am always struck by the popularity of national stars, there. People such as Paula Wessely in Austria and Martha Eggerth in Germany, may not mean a lot to the world at large, but they are tremendous names In their own countries. “I think that is grand—-and if I can do the same in England, that is good enough for me." So says Anna Neagle most unpretentious of stars. Hard work and enthusiasm have carried her to the top and her attitude to her career is a combination of intense enthusiasm and good sense. She will discuss her own performances quite impersonally. “I thought ‘Nell Gwynn’ was a better picture than ‘Peg of Old Drury,' but I thought I was better as Peg.” She is equally appreciative of sincere praise or criticism. Her reasons for staying in England seem pretty sound. Possibly filmgoers will like the idea of one British film star who believes in staying British.