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 How
does it feel to play a cartoon character on a hit TV series?
"Wonderful," says actress Linda Carter, who is the
superhuman Wonder Woman on the CBS series based on the popular
comic strip heroine. It is interesting that the things that make
Linda Carter so convincing as Wonder Woman, her sensationai
six-foot height and amazing figure, have always been a source of
constant embarrassment to her. "In high school." Linda
confesses, "I was too tall to be in the pep squad, too tall
for a boy to be comfortable with on a date, and too tall to feel
at ease anywhere." Now, it is that very same height and
beautiful figure that make her Wonder Woman series one of TV's
most-watched shows.
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Unlike
Wonder Woman, who was born on a mythical island, Linda Carter
was born here in Phoenix. Arizona, where her father was an
antique dealer. Except for her height problem, Linda says she
had a relatively happy childhood. After grade school and high
school, Linda, feeling she was too tall to be an actress even
though she wanted to be one, decided to concentrate on a music
career. She studied music in school and managed to get work as a
back-up singer for several rock groups after graduation. In 1972
Linda entered a local beauty contest in Phoenix. The beautiful
Linda won the local contest easily and went on to become
"Miss Arizona," and then "Miss U.S.A." in
the "Miss World"
contest. She lost the title of "Miss World," however,
to "Miss Australia." She was convinced, however,
that she could be a success at anything |
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enough. She went to Hollywood to find work as an actress.
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Despite
her fantastic looks, Linda did not find work as an actress
immediately upon arriving in Hollywood. She studied acting and
waited for her big break to occur. At this time, Warner
Brothers, sure that the women's lib movement had paved the way
for a TV series about the unbelievably strong, superheroic
Wonder Woman of comic-book fame, began working on a TV special
and a possible series based on the character. At first the
producers thought they might use a delicate, feminine, and
fragile young actress named Cathy Lee Crosby to play the part.
They soon realized that no woman with superhuman strength could
possibly be convincingly played by a small and frail-looking
girl like Cathy.
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After
auditioning hundreds of hopefuls, they finally came upon
statuesque Linda Carter and knew they had found their perfect
Wonder Woman. Linda was tall, lovely to look at, and athletic
besides. The TV special was presented on NBC and the response
was immediately enthusiastic. A series was produced with Linda
in the title role. The setting of the show, the 1940's, proved
perfect. There was World War Two, with its villainous Nazis. to
make life difficult for Wonder Woman. Just when everything was
looking good for Linda Carter. NBC decided that they did not
want to renew the series for a second season. CBS quickly took
up the show's option and Wonder Woman returned for a second
successful season.
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When
Linda Carter is not being Wonder- Woman, she keeps herself busy
doing calisthenics, swimming 60 laps daily in her swimming pool,
and jogging. At home Linda, unlike Wonder Woman, is the picture
of domesticity. She cooks and cleans house for her new husband,
Ron Samuels, who also acts as her manager. Ron confesses that he
has always been partial to tall girls. Everything is wonderful
for TV's Wonder Woman, Linda Carter!
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 VITAL
STATISTICS
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| BIRTHPLACE:
Phoenix, Arizona
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| BIRTHDATE:
July 24
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| HEIGHT:
6'0"
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| WEIGHT:
120 lbs
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| HAIR:
Brown
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| EYES:
Blue
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