Eileen lucked out and spent decades on AMC.
BUFFALO COURIER-EXPRESS. Saturday. Dec. 18, 1976
Eileen Herlie Chosen to Portray Myrtle Lum on ’All My Children’ By JON-MICHAEL REED
NEW YORK - She’s only been gone from “All My Children” for a few weeks but the incessant cry can be heard across the land: "Bring her back.” Carol Burnett, one of the show’s most ardent fans, has commented, “Oh, I love that woman. I hope there's some way they can keep her in the story.”
THE OBJECT of the clamor is a rather seedy character named Myrtle Lum. An ex-carnival woman. she was picked up out of the gutter of a woman’s shelter by rich witch Phoebe Tyler and hired to pose as the long-lost mother of Phoebe's would-be daughter-in-law, Kitty. The scheme was to have Myrtle lure Kitty away from Pine Valley and Phoebe’s only begotten son, Lincoln. The plan worked perfectly. Trouble was that Myrtle was a victim of her own charade. She grew to love Kitty as the daughter she never had. When the pressure increased that she might be exposed. Myrtle double-crossed Phoebe and devised her own fake funeral rather than allowing Kitty to learn the shattering truth. A noble gesture by one of the most colorful characters to ever come down the soap opera pike.
THE NOBLE actress chosen to portray this coloful charcter is Eileen Herlie. Eileen Herlie? Not the Eileen Herlie who burst upon the West End London stage in her eariy 20s to critical acclaim as the queen in Cocteau’s "The Eagle Has Two Heads”? Not the Eileen Herlie who was personally chosen by Laurence Olivier to play Queen Gertrude to his screen "Hamlet,” and then some 30 years later repeated the role in Richard Burton’s Broadway version? Not the Eileen Herlie whose career mentor was the late great Tyrone Guthrie? Not the Eileen Heriie whose leading men have included Rex Harrison. Maurice Evans, Peter Ustinov and John Gielgud, and who even ventured into two Broadway musicals, opposite Jackie Gleason in “Take Me Along” and Ray Bolger in “All American”? Not the Eileen Yes, that Eileen Herlie.
BUT COME NOW. Miss Herlie. Wasn’t it something of a step down to accept a role on a soap opera after such an illustrious career? “At first.” remembers the actress, “all I knew was that soap operas were sort of weepylove stories. I didn’t honestly think I could fit into that sort of thing. But after I read a few scripts, I immediately adored the lady. I would have grabbed this character and played her anywhere, in any medium. She’s a marvelous mixture of the comedic and the sentimental. She’s got so many dimensions. as well as enormous guts to survive the kind of background she had. "Of course, she’s not the kind of character I’m usually associated with. I suppose my reputation, if you want to call it that, has been connected with classical roles. I’ve performed with all the great English speaking actors of this century.
"BUT WHAT I haven’t had a chance to do is to get away from the glamorous queenly thing — the tiaras and the regal clothes and the trailing trains. With Mrs. Lum. I can get into an old, perfectly awful housedress and ill-matched scarves and berets. "I don’t have to worry about my accent, because she’s traveled everywhere and belongs nowhere. I can work with a wonderful, beautiful young actress like Francesca James (Kitty) and simply allow the character’s rich and outrageous behavior to sweep me along. I can look awful with the painted lips and rouge and just get on with the acting. "You see, the grand dames are lovely to play. But sometimes one just wants to get hold of a character that does not have to rely on the trappings, a situation where you can send the sheer guts of the character straight-out to hit the audience. This is what Mrs. Lum gives me a chance to do.
SHE CERTAINLY’ did that. Attention was paid to Mrs. Lum. and fans of “All My Children" continue to beseech the writers to bring her back from Hollywood where she seoff to find a career following the performance of her life. "Yes,” admits Miss Herlie. “the possibility of my return has been discussed. But, you know. I’ve learned it’s not advisable to reveal what might happen on a soap opera.” she adds with a gleeful wink. Oh. Eileen Herlie. you’re such a caution. But Miss Burnett, your wish may just come true. Tune in tomorrow . . ,
By
Paul Raven ·
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