UP AGAINST IT

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 454, 23 June 1937, Page 7

UP AGAINST IT

PEER’S ELDEST SON Has Only 2/» In Bank I London, May 16. Lord Naas, eldest son and heir of the Earl of Mayo, has two shillings in the bank—just to keep his account open for the day he gets a job on thefilms. Capital for that job is his thin, handsome, Irish face, a diploma from a film acting school, five neatly-folded suits, and £3 in cash. He is living in a tiny bed-sitting-room in a Pimlico boardinghouse. Recently he gave his landlady notice, unable to pay another week’s rent. “It looks like the Embankment,” he said. For six months he has been studying a film course, and appeared on the screen for one minute in the GaumontBritish film, “The Gap.” He had to register horror His Lessons. "Look,” he said, showing a roughlytyped folder of instructions to his Lordship for registering pleasure, joy, alarm, sorrow. “These are my lessons. I bought one course, but could not continue for a second. Fortunately the school was impressed with my work, and offered me a scholarship.” Heir to one of Ireland’s oldest aristocratic seats in the County of Kildare, Lord Naas has taken the family name of Bourke for a surname.

“I don’t want anyone to think I am pressing my birth for advantages. As ’Arry Bourke I earned 45/- labouring but my health gave in. You have to be used to it all your life to stand such work.

“Then I got a job as a salesman, but that needed time to work up a good commission, and I was too hard up to go on. For. two days and nights 1 walked around the park, without food or a bed. I really am hard up and worried about a job . . . yet my friends won’t believe me. They think I am joking or just near broke.” On the mantelpiece were invitations from people of title and influence to Ait Homes, or sherry, 6.0. Beside them was a meat pie, his lordship’s lunch.

No Work Offering. Lord Naas taught himself typing and book-keeping, but still could find no work. Then someone told him he had, a film face. “I took a course in acting and makeup. I can manage dialect —I have the part of a farm labourer in an amateur show in a few months—they say I’ll bring the house down.” Lord Naas is registered as “Ulri.ck Bourke” with several film agencies. He describes himself as 6ft., slim figure, hair slightly grey, eyes greygreen, wardrobe complete. He recently took singing lessons. Apart from hi& small film part, which he hopes is the beginning of a career, Lord Naas has appeared in amateur shows. He took the part of a duke last year in a pageant, was an usher at a recent operetta. “Unfortunately this does not keep me. I have to look for odd jobs to bring in a little capital. “It is not easy to get casual work with a title—l hide it. “But acting is my future. I am often asked what is my best part, but I can play*anything. I could be a sinister butler or a father, I think.” Lord Naas has been promised a small part in a film which may be produced in September. In the meantime he would be content with a job in a shop or an office. “A friend helped me a few days ago, otherwise I would have nothing. I think it is just that people don’t believe I am really hard up. "There is no society to help penniless eldest sons of peers.” Lord Naas watched the Coronation from the kerb-edge.