LOVELY CLAIRE BLOOM HAD TO WAIT TEN YEARS AND TRAVEL THREE THOUSAND MILES TO MAKE A CHERISHED DREAM BECOME REALITY

You wouldn't think that, as far as career goes, there were any wishes left for Claire bloom to have. For hadn't she rocketed to fame in "Limelight", playing opposite Charles Chaplin, that most exacting of all actors? And is she not starring in Lawrence Oliver's Richard III and wth Richard Burton in"Alexander the Great"? The most distinguished roles in movies and TV have been hers. Yer, like all actresses, she had her private wish to play a certain role--and until she was starred in NBC's "Producter's Showcase" production of "Cleopatra", that wish was not fulfilled. Yes, Miss Bloom's appearance in the Shaw comedy was in the nature of a dream come true. Last year, when she played Roxane with Jose Ferer in "Cyrano de Bergerax" on TV her success was so spectacular, that the producers of the show asked her to name the role she most wanted to play. "Cleopatra," she replied instantly. "I have always wanted to act the part in Shaw's play." And so it was arranged.
Sir Cedric Hardwicke co-starred as Caesar, and the impressive cast also included Farley Granger, Judith Anderson, Cyril Ritchard and Jack Hawkins. Since she was twenty-one and sky-rocketed to fame in "Limelight," Miss Bloom has played in the British productions of "Romeo and Juliet" as Juliet opposite Alan badel, and Jessica in "The Merchant of Venice." In 1953, Carol Reed chose her to play opposite James Mason in his exciting film, "The Man Between." Another season, her second at England's famous repertory theatre, the Old Vic, followed, with such roles as Miranda in "The Tempest," Ophelia in "Hamlet," Helena in "All's Well that Ends Well," and Viola in "Twelth Night."
Next season, Claire will return to New York with the Old Vic company to play Juliet. An audience estimated at between forty to fifty million persons, the largest ever to witness a daytime telecast, saw Claire Bloom in the American TV premiere of Sir Lawrence Olivier's three-hour film production of William Shakespear's "Richard III." More have since seen her in the movie version.
Claire Bloom was trained in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in her native England, and played her first professional engagment at the age of fifteen. Now twenty-five, just ten years later, she already has some of the world's greatest roles to her credit.

Black and white photos accompanying the article: 1. Two thirds page of Claire as Cleopatra, but holding a paper coffee cup while on break 2. Ninth page of Stewart Granger, Jack Hawkins, Cecil Hardwicke and Claire seated at a table. 3.Ninth page of Farley Granger and Claire in Cleopatra costumes laughing at something- Farley Granger and Claire have private joke. 4 & 5. Sixth page photos of street clothes rehearsals of Cleopatra, with Sir Cedric, Claire and Jack Hawkins; Farley Granger, the director, Judith Anderson and Claire. 6. Fifth page of dress rehearsal scene in front of TV camera, with Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Claire, Miss Anderson. 7. Ninth page of Claire and Farley on break smilng about something. 8. Ninth page of Claire and director Anthony Quale in a close discussion about something- Claire laughs with director Anthony Quale, who also acted with Katherine Cornell in TV's Barret's of Wimpole St. 9. Ninth page of Claire making a pot of coffee at home. 10. Claire washing her hair in a slip- a good way for an actress to relax is to wash her hair. 11 & 12. Claire in front of a makeup mirror giving her hair a massage and answering her phone while placing a towel over her wet hair- In the middle of giving her head a good massage, the phone rings. With towel over her head, she agrees to be ready for premiere date that eve. 13. Ninth page of Clair having her evening wrap placed on her shoulders by a male companion- Claire is ready to be taken to premiere of "Richard III." 14. Ninth page of Claire holding dying Christopher Plummer, with Jose Ferrer, from "Cyrano"- "Cyrano" with Jose Ferrer and Christopher Plummer. 15. Ninth page of Sir Lawrence Olivier as Richard III with Claire as Anne in a scene from "Richard III" 16. Ninth page of Claire and Richard Burton and director Rosson on break discussing something on set of Alexander the Great.