Una Pearl
- Additional Crew
- Actress
In June 1956, Una got a call from a casting agent to go to a house on
Piccadilly, London, where cinematographer Jack Cardiff was casting for
body-doubles for The Prince and the Showgirl (1957). Una, born and bred
in Croydon, London, had already worked in repertory theatre as well as
walk-on roles in such films as An Alligator Named Daisy (1955) with
Donald Sinden and Diana Dors, and The Silken Affair (1956) with David
Niven, had put her on the cover of Picturegoer magazine in 1956 (she
looked endearing and pretty in a demure baby doll nightie). To Una's
surprise, Cardiff selected her from around 50 other girls. Una was ten
years younger, and two inches shorter than Marilyn Monroe. She had
Monroe's exact skin colouring. The film was shot in Technicolor. Unlike
many who have gone on record to give their side of the story, Una does
not have one bad word to say about Marilyn. 'I found her charming, a
giggler - the least little thing would set her off laughing. And she
was very down to earth. I didn't find her snooty like some actresses,
who wouldn't smile, and would look the other way if you said good
morning.' So fond did Una grow of Marilyn that when she had her first
daughter, in 1965, she named her after the star! After four months of
hard work, Una made it into three scenes of the final edit, highly
unusual for a 1950s body double. Her long-fingered elegant hands,
'always a selling point', are seen in close-up when Elsie Marina reads
a programme booklet. Una also appears in long shot, waving to King
George V in the coronation scenes, and when Marilyn was too ill to be
on set, Una was filmed from behind, bobbing up and down in curtsy to
Laurence Olivier. Una finally retired from showbusiness during the late
1960s to raise her family. She has two daughters. For many years she
lived in total obscurity, only returning to the limelight in October
2002 when she was invited to attend the opening night of a photographic
tribute to the late Frank Worth. Called 'Worth Exposing Hollywood' it
featured never before seen images of Marilyn Monroe. Una graciously
gave interviews to the BBC and CNN as well as joining actors Patricia
Neal, Betty Garrett, Arlene Dahl, Peggy Cummins, Mildred Shay, Noreen
Nash, James Whitmore, Kathleen Hughes and Liz Fraser for a photo
opportunity. Una Pearl lives in Essex, England.