Shelley with Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd
on the cover of the Spanish-language magazine
Hola (Hello), August 1979
When Shelley joined the cast of Charlie's Angels in 1979, she was quickly thrust into the Hollywood limelight. Of course, tongues immediately began wagging about Charlie's newest Angel. She was talked about in gossip columns, tabloids and entertainment shows all over the world. Even her romantic life was suddenly splashed all over the papers. One of the first stories that came out was about her was her on-and-off relationship with screenwriter/director Nicholas Mayer. "I feel badly when I read things about myself that aren't true - like the fact that I just broke up with my long-time boyfriend writer/director Nicholas Mayer. That bothered me terribly. We're still very much together and people print lies." At one point, she was even linked to Roots actor/singer Ben Vereen. Like the Angels before her, she had stepped into the "virtual fishbowl," the "rock star space." She later said, "I was totally unprepared for the press "bonanza" that followed."
Shelley with Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd
on the pages of the Spanish-language magazine
Hola (Hello), August 1979
In 1979, Shelley was featured in the Spanish-language magazine Hola (Hello), a magazine which specializes in celebrity news. In the mag's August 11, 1979 issue, Shelley (along with fellow Angels Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd) appeared on the cover and on a three-page spread/writeup in the mag. The English translation is as follows:
Exclusive Interview
Shelley Hack
SHE'S THE NEWEST ANGEL IN CHARLIE'S ANGELS
The famous Supermodel was chosen from among five thousand aspirants
THE BLONDE BEAUTY IS CONSIDERING MARRIAGE TO BLACK ACTOR
BEN VEREEN, WHO PLAYED CHICKEN GEORGE IN ROOTS
After a long and exhaustive search, from among thousands of aspirants (around five thousand), brunette Kate Jackson's replacement in the hit TV series Charlie's Angels has finally been found. As Hello readers already know, the choice is the blonde and beautiful Shelley Hack, whose primary claim to fame has been being one of the most sought-after Supermodels in North America, until yesterday.
Shelley, who showed she has a lot of talent, has great style and is at ease in front of the camera, seems to be very excited to have finally landed the Angel role after a long audition process, as can be noticed from the statements she made shortly after her casting was announced...
"Frankly, I'm very excited. All this has been exhausting, and I don't know how we all were able to get through it. But I think it's all been worth it. At any rate, now I think I really have to sweat it out and work hard. You see, I'm perfectly aware that I'll be working alongside professionals such as Jaclyn and Cheryl, so I have to do my best. It's not that I'm worried about the task ahead of me. Quite the contrary. But that still doesn't mean that I won't need to work hard. But frankly, I'm very excited."
The truth is Shelley, who has a History degree from a university in the East Coast and has traveled to Australia to expand her education, has been working as a model since her teens and has appeared on the covers and pages of many women's magazines. But she definitely never imagined that she would eventually become a big TV star. She may have dreamed about it, but she certainly had no idea that it would happen...
But now, it has become a reality, an exciting reality.
Right, Shelley?
"Yes, you said it. All I can say is I'm delighted by the opportunity. Up to now, I've only been exposed to the world of modeling. Yes, I've been very well-paid; but there's a huge difference between modeling and this profession. So, yes, of course. Like you said, it is exciting."
However, not everything comes easy in the life of Charlie's newest Angel, in the life of Shelley Hack. It seems things are not going too well in her romantic life, which seems to be a shipwreck. But despite everything, Shelley Hack hasn't lost heart; and she has been spotted regularly in the company of someone else, a famous actor. The man is no other than Ben Vereen, a well-known black actor who played Chicken George, Kunta Kinte's grandson, in the hit mini-series Roots.
Shelley with Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd
on the pages of the Spanish-language magazine
Hola (Hello), August 1979
What's going on between you and your boyfriend, Shelley?
"Well, that's a very delicate matter that I'd rather keep to myself. At this point, I'm not going to deny that our relationship is not going well. I'd say that it's been like that for months now. But, as I said, I'd rather not go into details."
But you've been spotted with Ben Vereen.
Don't you care what people might say?
"Look, if things don't work out with my boyfriend, then it's only logical that I look around for someone else. Ben is a great guy. He's jolly and funny and I enjoy his company. That's all."
Is there a wedding on the horizon?
The actress smiles when asked the question;
and after a few seconds, she tries to answer it and says:
"That's something very important, a decision that can't be made overnight. Ben and I, like I said, enjoy each other's company. And, well, I can only say, if that's any indication, it won't be too surprising if something happens..."
Indeed, everything, even Shelley's own words, makes us think that a wedding is possibly on the horizon. She seems very happy in the company of the black actor; and he seems very happy in the company of the gorgeous new Angel, understandably. At any rate, nothing is sure yet. Although, if you peek into any of trendiest clubs in New York, you might spot the couple laughing, having fun, and, seemly, ready for anything.
Will you give up modeling?
"At the moment, I'm bound by contract to complete my modeling jobs. But once I've completed them, I won't be able to sign new ones as I'll be busy filming this series. That, for me, is a sensible choice; and I don't mind foregoing modeling for acting. I've always believed that working on film or television is a step up from modeling. Now, I'm about to realize one of my lifelong dreams; and I'm willing to pay the price for it. So it's only fair."
Well, we sincerely wish Shelley Hack the very best of luck... in the series, in her private life, and in her love life (which now seems to be heading in a new direction with black actor Ben Vereen, whose performance in the hit mini-series Roots made him a famous name in Spain).
