Shelley in a paparazzi pic, 1979
Shelley became Angel no. 5 in 1979 when she joined the cast of Charlie's Angels. Her character was Tiffany Welles, a classy Boston-bred policewoman who was the daughter of one of Charlie's oldest friends. She was chosen from among a bevy of beautiful actresses which included Priscilla Presley, Kim Basinger, Michelle Pfeiffer, Connie Sellecca and Shari Belafonte. In May of 1979, Bond Girl Barbara Bach was announced as the newest Angel. But it was quickly retracted and, by late-May of that year, Shelley was announced as Charlie's newest Angel. The newest heavenly recruit came with the approval of not just executive producers Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg but also of incumbent Angels Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd.
Shelley with Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith
in a promo pic for Charlie's Angels, 1979
Her casting sent the press into overdrive. The interest in Charlie's newest Angel was so intense, that so many articles about her, as well as news features, came out and appeared around the world. "I couldn’t believe it. What was I doing in the evening news?" Shelley exclaimed at the time. Of course, some were true and some were, well, not. But publicity was publicity, and the frenzy generated so much interest in her, it catapulted her to Hollywood Superstardom before she even filmed an episode of the series. The headline "THE Charlie Girl Becomes Charlie's Newest Angel" was heard all over the world. Shelley was the newest "It Girl" in Hollywood.
a writeup about newest
Charlie's Angel Shelley, May 1979
