| Save Our Cabin | Middletown Productions | Mailbox | |
| Fans | Candy's Corner | Harper Valley PTA | Chat |
| Scrapbook | HOME | What's New? | Links |
Auburn-haired, blue-eyed Bridget
Hanley was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 3. When her dad,
former All-American, Lee Hanley, joined the Marine Corps, the family moved
to Cherry Point, North Carolina. Having lived through a near-fatal attack
of virus pneumonia as an infant, 2 1/2-year old Bridget next boldly sat on
the back of a swamp alligator (and lived through that!)
Bridget moved with her parents and older sister,
Mary Jo, to Edmonds, Washington, north of Seattle, where she chopped wood,
mowed lawns, raised ducks, buried ducks, played football, baseball, tennis
(and lived through that) before deciding to become a young lady at
14! The switch of roles from rowdy tomboy to dainty miss came about
the day she was asked to join the male track team!
It was also at that age, recalls Bridget, that her thoughts turned toward
plays, (writing parts for herself), dancing, piano and boys -- in that
order.
By the time she reached Edmonds High School, Bridget
was Cheer Leader, president of the Drama Society, member of the Scholastic
Honorary Society, as well as belonging to the school orchestra, band and
choir. She also served on the Student Council, but confesses she had
to stay after class in chemistry.
Bridget recalls she graduated from high school with a sigh of relief
before hurrying off to San Francisco College for Women "I almost
didn't live through that!" she laughs. After keeping the
drama coach in tears for two years, she returned to Washington and
entered the University.
Bridget graduated with honors and a BA in drama, after having appeared in
17 major productions, ranging from Shakespeare to Arthur Miller---and
getting a "D" in Oceanography.
On her way to New York, the budding actress headed
for San Francisco, where she lived in a funny, one-room apartment she
nicknamed "Tacky Towers." Bridget landed a part as a bronchial French maid in Noel Coward's "Private Lives" and was
earning a grand total of $20 a week, but it was her step into professional
theatre, and eventually led to the lead in "Under the Yum Yum
Tree." This role brought her to San Diego and finally
Hollywood.
"I had two dresses, and no money," recalls Bridget,
"but lots of hope, ambition, and love for my work. I quickly learned
to adore smog, cheap potatoes, lettuce, air conditioners, interviews, and
the unemployment line."
This soon changed, and Bridget became a busy young
actress, guesting in such series as "Hank", "Gidget",
"Farmer's Daughter." She also appeared in an ABC pilot,
"Pirates of Flounder Bay" before signing with Screen Gems in
1966.
While under contract to Screen Gems, Bridget appeared in most of the
studio's series, as well as co-starring with Fred Gwynne in the NBC-TV
pilot,
Guess What I Did Today?" Bridget confesses she always felt
herself right for the role of "Candy" in "Here Come The
Brides" and she fought for it, but she didn't land the part until
numerous girls had tested. Today, all agree that nobody but Bridget could
have played Candy.
Bridget is especially proud of the first "gold record"
presented to her by Joan Blondell and the cast and crew when she had to
sing "Annie Laurie" in a second season episode of
"Brides." "I may not be good, but I was
loud!"
She's also pleased that the new character of her little TV sister is named
Molly after her real-life little sister. "You can guess who was
responsible for that." laughs Bridget.
"Oh yes," she smiles, "While at Screen Gems, I met a
marvelous director named E. W. Swackhamer, a brilliant artist and
wonderful human being. We were married on April 26, 1969, after a
whirlwind courtship of two-and-a-half years. Now I have the longest name in show business--Mrs. Bridget Ann Elizabeth Hanley Swackhamer."
To date, Bridget, the new bride, has three cookbooks
and has purchased the first piece of furniture for her new home---an
antique bathtub.
Bridget Hanley Swackhamer sums up her goals like
this: "I want to continue acting--learning--loving life--(and my
husband). Even though I hate to get up early, I'm the luckiest girl
in the world when that alarm rings at 5 a.m. ---because I'm going to a job
I've prepared for all my life. Happiness is acting in a series you
love!"