Just Ask

Jun 15 2008 Margret Campbell

Q HOW many films did Elvis Presley make in black and white and is it true the actress who played Morticia Addams starred opposite him on screen? - Murray Pollock, East Kilbride.

A OUT of 31 films in which Elvis played a character, rather than appearing as himself, there were just three in black and white - Love Me Tender (1956), Jailhouse Rock (1957) and King Creole (1958). Carolyn Jones, who went on to play Morticia Addams on TV in the 1960s, also appeared in King Creole.

Carolyn, who was born in 1930 in Amarillo, Texas, suffered severe asthma as a child and was often too ill to attend school. She grew up reading movie magazines and dreaming of stardom. She made it in the 1950s and had her breakthrough movie, a 3D version of House of Wax, in 1953.

That same year she married Aaron Spelling, producer of Dynasty and Charlie's Angels - then a struggling actor. Carolyn persuaded him to concentrate on writing. Eventually his career outstripped hers and they split in 1963. Carolyn was also cast in film classic From Here To Eternity in 1953 but had to pull out after contracting pneumonia. Donna Reed got the role and won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

In 1964 Carolyn covered her blonde locks with a long black wig to play Morticia Addams - and a TV legend was born. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1981 but despite being in great pain and at times confined to a wheelchair, she continued to work on US soap Capitol. Carolyn died in August 1983, aged just 53.

Q WHAT are the winners of the previous series of The Apprentice doing now? - J. Robertson, Glasgow.

A THE first series in 2005 was won by planning officer Tim Campbell. He ran Amstrad's new Health and Beauty division. He stayed with Sugar for two years before leaving to set up his own male grooming business.

Series two was won by ex-Kwik Save checkout girl Michelle Dewberry. She launched Amstrad subsidiary Xenon Green, which specialised in disposal of unwanted computer equipment.

She left to set up her own business after becoming pregnant in a relationship with fellow Apprentice candidate Syed Ahmed but suffered a miscarriage.

Last year's winner, web entrepreneur Simon Ambrose, works with Amsprop, the property arm of Amstrad. He is developing a new hotel and golf course.

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