THE JOURNAL-NEWS, SUNDAY, JULY, 24, 198
Bibi Besch—On a sudsy run through summer By LYNDA HIRSCH
Bibi Besch, the aristocratic blonde actress who was born in Vienna, Austria, and has spent most of her years appearing in such soap operas as “Secret Storm,” “ Somerset,” “ Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” and “Edge of Night,” as well as dozens of prime-time movies, feature films and plays, is dipping into prime-time soap opera for the second time as she stars as Adrienne Duncan-Mortimer on ABC’s short-term summer soaper “The Hamptons.”
Miss Besch’s first prime-time soap was the spectacular flop, “Secrets of Midland Heights.” “I really didn’t understand why that show didn’t work until recently. Then some people explained that the characters on ‘Midland Heights’ were ordinary, and no one wants to look at ordinary characters on a prime-time soap. When they come home from work, they want to see people who are fabulously wealthy and who do fabulous things. I really believe ‘The Hamptons’ has the potential for a long run. “My character is an alcoholic woman so rich that she can say and do anything. I think the saying and doing anything with no one talking back to her would be wonderful, at least for a while.”
Besch, daughter of actress Gusti Huber, who created the role of Anne Frank’s mother in the Broadway play “Diary of Anne Frank,” began acting in her early years, but isn’t thrilled that her 13-year-old daughter Samantha has the same 'thought in mind. “I’ve been discouraging her from an acting career, although she’s beginning to wear me down. The reason I’ve been discouraging her? I think acting is full of great disappointments. I’ve had them throughout my career. I wanted desperately to be a renowned Broadway actress, and while I did do some Broadway roles, it never really worked out for me. That’s why I moved to Los Angeles.
No sooner did I get to L.A. than I was offered a part in a Broadway comedy to star Dick Van Dyke I was thrilled. I told all my friends and relatives the news. I dashed off to New York. And while waiting for the play to begin, I received a call that it was going to be postponed for one week Then two weeks. Then forever. I have to say that was my biggest disappointment in the business.”
A single parent, Besch admits sometimes it s hard raising a daughter and being in show business “There are trade-offs. For example, when Samantha graduated from grammar school, I was on location in Rome and couldn’t make it back for the ceremony. But a week later, she flew to Rome and spent the summer with me. I don’t think many girls Samantha’s age would get a chance like that. “I think Samantha understands my absences, especially as she grows older, and I try to have her with me as often as I can. I’ve turned down roles when I thought I would be away for too long, but sometimes the financial situation makes it necessary for me to be away for long stretches of time.”
ABC and Besch hope “The Hamptons” has a longer run than its proposed five weeks. It’s slated to run right after the highly-rated “Fall Guy” on Wednesday evenings and right before “Dynasty." Although “Dynasty” is hotter than hot in its initial run, in reruns it’s near the bottom of the Nielsens. “I understand they’re going to look at this closely, and if it’s a hit during the summer, then during the second season ‘The Hamptons’ could be slated for a long run. I think the character of Adrienne is fascinating and I could live with doing her for years and years "
By
Paul Raven ·
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