About
"I recognized, finally, that the camera was a basic thing of the child wanting their parent to really look at them. And once you lose, that, or realize you don't need that, it sort of loses its allure."
Highlights
Barbara Feldon on her first TV job as George C. Scott's girlfriend on East Side/West Side and how it led to her role on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on how she and Don Adams were a great comedy duo on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on the origins of "99" on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was
Barbara Feldon on her advice to students: "just acting is not enough"
Barbara Feldon on what she wished she had known when she was first starting her career
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On loving the magic of the acrobat as a child; on what got her interested in performing and the thrill of performing when she was young; on attending Carnegie Tech Drama School and becoming an actress; on her mother being a performer; on how her background in dance impacted her career; on her work as a model and a showgirl; on winning $64,000 Question and going on auditions
On her modeling career taking off; on doing commercials; on her first TV job as George C. Scott's girlfriend on East Side/West Side and how it led to her role on Get Smart; on how she was enticed to do Get Smart; on not believing she's a comedienne; on being grateful for her time on Get Smart and how the industry is not generous to women; on how comedy is more fun to do than drama
On off-camera and on-camera relationships; on not socializing with Don Adams off the set of Get Smart, but having an incredible chemistry and relationship with Don Adams as "99" and "Maxwell Smart"; on the fine line between fantasy and reality; on her advice to students: "just acting is not enough"; on the origins of "99" on Get Smart; on not getting any direction from the directors on Get Smart; on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was; on working with Don Adams on Get Smart
On doing comedy v. drama; on writing her novel; on the humor and heavier subjects in Get Smart; on Buck Henry's talents on Get Smart; on other cast and crew members; on mentors throughout her life
On advice to students about changes in the industry and how to protect yourself; on her agents and publicists and not being as in demand after Get Smart; on celebrity; on not seeing herself as a star or a comedienne; on what she wished she had known when she was first starting her career; on whether it was all worth it
Shows
$64,000 Question
Barbara Feldon on winning $64,000 Question
East Side/West Side
Barbara Feldon on her first TV job as George C. Scott's girlfriend on East Side/West Side and how it led to her role on Get Smart
Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on her first TV job as George C. Scott's girlfriend on East Side/West Side and how it led to her role on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on being taller than Don Adams
Barbara Feldon on how she was enticed to do Get Smart and her first review in TV Guide
Barbara Feldon on how she and Don Adams were a great comedy duo on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on being grateful for her time on Get Smart and how the industry is not generous to women; on how comedy is more fun to do than drama
Barbara Feldon on not socializing with Don Adams off the set of Get Smart, but having an incredible chemistry and relationship with Don Adams as "99" and "Maxwell Smart"; on the fine line between fantasy and reality
Barbara Feldon on the origins of "99" on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on not getting any direction from the directors on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was
Barbara Feldon on working with Don Adams on Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on the humor and heavier subjects in Get Smart; on Buck Henry's talents on Get Smart; on other cast and crew members
Topics
Advice
Barbara Feldon on her advice to students: "just acting is not enough"
Barbara Feldon on advice to students about changes in the industry and how to protect yourself; on her agents and publicists and not being as in demand after Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on what she wished she had known when she was first starting her career
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Barbara Feldon on mentors throughout her life
Fame and Celebrity
Barbara Feldon on celebrity
Historic Events and Social Change
Barbara Feldon on being grateful for her time on Get Smart and how the industry is not generous to women; on how comedy is more fun to do than drama
Barbara Feldon on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was
Pivotal Career Moments
Barbara Feldon on mentors throughout her life
Pop Culture
Barbara Feldon on celebrity
Representation on Television
Barbara Feldon on being grateful for her time on Get Smart and how the industry is not generous to women; on how comedy is more fun to do than drama
Barbara Feldon on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was
Television Industry
Barbara Feldon on her advice to students: "just acting is not enough"
Barbara Feldon on the one time she was directed on television
Barbara Feldon on advice to students about changes in the industry and how to protect yourself; on her agents and publicists and not being as in demand after Get Smart
Barbara Feldon on what she wished she had known when she was first starting her career
Women
Barbara Feldon on being grateful for her time on Get Smart and how the industry is not generous to women; on how comedy is more fun to do than drama
Barbara Feldon on working without shoes on Get Smart and trying to look shorter than she was
Professions
Actress
Barbara Feldon on what got her interested in performing and the thrill of performing when she was young; on her early interest in ballet
Barbara Feldon on doing comedy v. drama and acting in the film Smile
Performers
Barbara Feldon on what got her interested in performing and the thrill of performing when she was young
Barbara Feldon on not believing she's a comedienne
Barbara Feldon on being an actor performing comedy v. being a comedienne
Barbara Feldon on doing comedy v. drama and acting in the film Smile
Genres
Comedy Series
Barbara Feldon on doing comedy v. drama
Barbara Feldon on the power of humor to heal in painful situations and how it differs on comedies and dramas
Commercials
Barbara Feldon on acting in commercials
Drama Series
Barbara Feldon on doing comedy v. drama
Barbara Feldon on the power of humor to heal in painful situations and how it differs on comedies and dramas
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Barbara Feldon on how much she enjoyed performing on variety/sketch shows and on those programs disappearing over the years
People
Don Adams
Barbara Feldon on being taller than Don Adams
Barbara Feldon on how she and Don Adams were a great comedy duo on Get Smart; on being an actor performing comedy v. being a comedienne or comedian
Barbara Feldon on not socializing with Don Adams off the set of Get Smart, but having an incredible chemistry and relationship with Don Adams as "99" and "Maxwell Smart"; on the fine line between fantasy and reality
Barbara Feldon on working with Don Adams on Get Smart
Alan Alda
Barbara Feldon on off-camera and on-camera relationships and the factory atmosphere in Hollywood
Buck Henry
Barbara Feldon on Buck Henry's talents on Get Smart
George C. Scott
Barbara Feldon on her first TV job as George C. Scott's girlfriend on East Side/West Side and how it led to her role on Get Smart