Sunday, April 30, 2023

Glowing Reviews

Shelley at an event in 1982

Shelley was one of Hollywood's newest stars in the early 1980s. She initially rose to Supermodel fame via her Charlie perfume commercials and print ads; then later she became a Hollywood superstar via her casting in Charlie's Angels. As it was with all the Angels, Shelley had to prove that she was more than just a pretty face after her stint with the show was over. Right after Angels, she starred in the Jack Heifner play Vanities and surprised everyone with her excellent performance. She ventured further and did Elizabeth Diggs' play Close Ties and likewise gave another excellent performance. She starred as Billie Dawn in the Pennsylvania Stage Co.'s production of Born Yesterday and again, excellent performance. She received glowing reviews for all her stage efforts.

Shelley at an event in 1982

She eventually got the attention of Martin Scorsese who cast her in his Robert de Niro/Jerry Lewis starrer The King of Comedy. "I couldn't work because I read for The King of Comedy and got the part," she said, "The picture was delayed and I couldn't take a chance of doing anything else." Her gamble payed off however. Not only did she receive glowing reviews for her performance in it, the film - although not a hit when it was released - has slowly gained a following and is now considered one of Scorsese's finest work.

Shelley at an event in 1982