Sandra Bettin :  

A bit of an update added to some things here that you already may know. Many of you have gone all through school with me since I moved to LA at the age of 10 and finished the last 1/2 of the 6th grade at Brentwood Elementary. Some of you also know that I was chosen out of a dance class for my first Tevision Job at the age of 10. I never had to think about a career as I literally fell in to one at a very early age, By the time I was 14, I had all 3 of my Actor's Union Cards and was working pretty steadily. While at Uni, I was screen tested for several series and several times for Maria in "Westside Story". I was unknown and only 16 years old and would have pushed the buget far too high as I stiil would have had to go to school on the set, could only work 4 hours and allowed no overtime as well as even though my mother would have been on the set, under 18, they must also hire a Social Worker. Producer/Director Robert Wise, took my screen tests from the vault and personally gave them to me, as in those days that kind of film went a long way in being cast in many other roles. Some of you remember that while at SMCC, I guest starred on "Cheyenne" and "Bronco", My first live TV show was with Charleton Heston. My first filmed TV show was with John Forsythe, so I was lucky to start out with bang up credits. In my early teens, I continually modled for Catalina Swimsuits, both runway and their yearly catalogues. I did almost every soft drink commercial, was a regular or guest star on several TV series and always did a ton of Print (Photography Ads and Billboards). While at SMCC, I entered a Local Beauty Contest on a bet. My friends dared me into it, betting that I would win. My bet was that I would lose. Much to my surprise, I won. The girl who came in 2nd went on to take Miss USA. I ended up by being taken to MGM for a 3 year Talent Contract. I thank my friends at SMCC, mostly Steven Morse, who pushed me in to this contest as by just having entered it, I was taken to MGM by MGM's Head Talent Scout who was one of the judges. These friends and Steve were the ones that really gave my career a big boost. While at MGM, I guest starred on several shows and landed a contarct as a Series Regular on "Dr. Killdare", with Richard Chamberlain and Raymond Massey. For some reason, I became a favorite of MGM's Public Relations Dept. and ended up doing magazine covers, had notices in Variety and Reporter, the Industry's Trade Papers, and was featured in magazine and newspaper articles which should have been done by their already known young stars. I was chosen as "MGM's Star Of The Future" and presented at what was then "The Deb Star Ball". Every studio nominated their choice but only 12 of us were chosen. One of the highlights was that we all appeared on the "Bob Hope Show", and we were introduced individually by Bob. Having received the "Debbie", while it is no longer given, it was then a very pretigious award and guranteed each of us a lot more work. I was leaving the "Kildare" set one day when I was tapped on the shoulder by George Pal, Producer/Director known best for "The Time Machine" and "War Of The Worlds". He noticed that I walked like a "duck", with my feet turned out, as many dancers do. He asked if I was a dancer and said that he had thought so because he was walking behind me and noticed that I walked with my feet turned out. I started to laugh as I answered, "Yes", and told him that I had been walking like a duck since I started dance at the age of 4, and that it had long been a joke among my friends. He wanted me in the MGM Casting Office at 10:00 AM the next morning in dance clothes, prepared to dance. The office was full of furniture and men. I managed to find some space to spin but mostly was leaping over furniture and laps. I ended up walking out with a lovely part in MGM/Cinerama's, "Wonderful World Of The Brothers' Grimm", the story of the 2 brothers who wrote "Grimm's Fairy Tales". I was the Ballerina in one of the 3 stories, "The Cobbler And The Elves". My scenes were with Lawrence Harvey who played one of the brothers and was aged to look like the little old cobbler. Working with Geoge, Larry and Hermes Pann, Fred Astaire's choreographer, was an actress/dancer's dream, especially for a first film. The film was loaded with star actors who all went on tour to various cities for a month pemiering the film . Somehow I was included in this group. I toured 17 cities in 21 days and when I got back, Barbara Eden was ill and I went out a second time taking the tour she was scheduled for. This tour included fewer cities and a longer time in each. George Pal and his wife took this same premiering tour as well. This time I received the Glass Key to the City of Toledo, Ohio, the "Glass Capitol Of The World", was given a presentation by Senator Hubert H. Humphrey and escorted to the Ball by the Senator's son given in our honor. We were guests of the Governor of Georgia in Atlanta and at 19 years old I was asked on the spur of the moment to address the entire Georgia State Legislature, I was quite at ease and had a ball as I had already sat next to Senator Humphey at the Premiere in Minneapolis where it was the first time I had seen the film. The Senator whispered, "What does it feel like to see your name on the big screen for the first time?" I answered back in all seriousness, "Probably like you felt winning your first election.". He roared with laughter and I spent the evening more with him and his wife than with his son. As I was not yet 21, the studio had to send someone with me. I suggested my Mother, as traveling with a stranger in my suite did not sound too inviting. The Finacial People were thrilled as I explained to them that they would only pay for my Mother's fare and accomodations, while anyone else would also include a salary and my Mother would not. My Mother was young, beautiful and loaded with class and charm, so everyone was delighted. Also, right after I graduated Uni, I started volunteering in Pediatrics at UCLA Medical Center. I would be ca...Expand for more