Catacombs Reference LibraryCatherine Schell: TV's Superhuman
Catacombs Reference LibraryBy Kay Gardella, New York News (15 September 1976)
NEW YORK - TV keeps searching for powers beyond human reach. Indicative is "Six Million Dollar Man," "The Bionic Woman," "Gemini Man" and the most beautiful superhuman female of all - Maya, Moonbase Alpha's resident alien who possesses powers of molecular transformation.
Catherine Schell is Maya. You remember her as Peter Seller's co-star in "The Return of The Pink Panther." And chances are you'll never forget her once she premieres in the successful syndicated television series, "Space: 1999," when it begins its second season cross-country this month.
A stunning 5-foot-7 beauty, whose blonde tresses had been dyed red for her space role, Miss Schell (no relation to Maria and Maximillian) had just flown from California where she made an appearance with Johnny Carson to talk about molecular transformation- the ability to transform herself into fascinating objects, creatures and other life forms.
"I concentrate really hard." she says with a twinkle in her eyes, all by way of explaining how she turns herself into a lioness, panther, falcon, gorilla, dove, dolphin, wolf, fox, bee or beetle. "Actually," she goes on, in her lilting English accent, "I don't like to talk about the technical aide of it -it gives the game away.
"You see in my eyes what I'm about to appear as - the camera moves in for a closeup, I blink and - voila! - I suddenly become whatever I am to be. Of course, we use stunt men inside costumes and on some occasions we use live animals.
"In the opening episode you'll see me as a lion. A 4-month pregnant female was used and she was absolutely vicious. She ran amuck on the set, growling and terrifying everyone.
"I feel sorry for the poor beasts. The lights frighten them and they're terrified by the cameramen."
As the film star explains, she's from another planet, far more advanced from earth. She's a science officer who not only possesses molecular transformation but a computer brain as well.
"The civilization I come from is far more advanced but we play it down, otherwise I'd be too much of an egghead. I don't want to be an egghead. I'm simply playing it like, My God, I have this incredible talent for science and I use it."
Is there any hanky-panky out in space, we wondered aloud. Tony Anholt, another newcomer to the series this fall, will be an Alphan who is attracted to Maya but shows it through sarcasm.
His name is Tony Verdeschi in the series and, while they never quite get together on screen. It's obviously a romance ... much as that of Barbara Bain and Martin Landau, the series stars.
"They never want to go too far." said Miss Schell. 'It would limit the script if you had a real relationship."
Her own views on sex are rather free-wheeling. Born in Budapest, the daughter of Baron and Baroness Schell Von Vauschlott [sic; actually Schell von Bauschlott], she confessed to a strict early childhood.
Her parents came to the United States with their four children to escape the Communist takeover of Hungary and settled in Washington. D.C. Catherine, who changed her name when she decided upon an acting career, grew up ¡n the capital, as well as New York and Germany, where she first started acting.
The actress was married six years to William Harlowe [sic; Marlowe], an actor, but they're now separated. "I still love my husband," she confessed, "I think he's a wonderful man. But I don't think you actually know a person until you live with them. I know I'm totally different when I'm being courted. When I start relaxing I become more myself."
And what is that, we asked.
"I think I'm very quiet, actually. I love privacy. I have to be alone sometimes. To me this is terribly important. While I loved my husband, it took me a long time to realize we were not compatible. I didn't want to be taken over mind and body."
Miss Schell figures that between Lord Lew Grade and the BBC, she has been kept gainfully employed. She has appeared in such ATV productions - that's Grade's company - as "The Persuaders," "The Avengers," "Madam Sin." the "Thriller" series, and many more. She also has guest starred in the ITC Entertainment series in an episode called "Guardian of Piri."
"Space: 1999," distributed by ITC Entertainment, headed by Abe Mandell, will be in 86 markets this fall, or 78 per cent of the country. According to Mandell, the second year budget will be $300,000 per episode, which he hopes to recoup on the world market.