Singin' in the Rain star Debbie Reynolds hits Llandudno

Mar 18 2010

Debbie Reynolds

DEBBIE Reynolds starred in one of the most iconic American films of all time – Singin’ in the Rain. It was box office dynamite in 1952 and Reynolds became a huge star at 20 years old.

She went on to have a series of marriage disasters, a top singing career in Las Vegas and was Oscar nominated for The Unsinkable Molly Brown.

Now she’s set to return to Britain to perform her funny and fast-tempo variety show Alive and Fabulous on a 15-date tour.

She wears glitzy £15,000 costumes, sings her hit songs, and talks about her life. And she’s not above having a little dig at Elizabeth Taylor, the woman who stole her husband Eddie Fisher in the 1950s.

She chatted to the Weekly News from her home in Los Angeles, where she lives on the same road as her daughter Carrie Fisher.

"I went to the MGM studio school with Liz Taylor and Roddy McDowell," she said. "When I did Singin’ in the Rain I was only 18. Gene Kelly used to work me very hard, but I learnt so much from him, he was such a talent."

In Tony Curtis’ recent autobiography, the actor mentions that Debbie and her gang were the elite of Hollywood.

When she was asked about this, Debbie, now 77, replied: "I don’t know about that, but Janet Leigh, a very great friend of mine, was married to Tony. He liked the ladies too much and I didn’t like that as it upset my girlfriend."

When asked who of the great male stars stopped Debbie in her tracks, she gave a wicked laugh.

"When I saw Cary Grant my mouth fell open, and I remember staring at Gary Cooper because he was just so beautiful," she admits.

Debbie was also a great friend of Frank Sinatra. She reflects: "We starred in The Tender Trap together and at the time I was engaged to Eddie.

"Sinatra treated me like his kid sister. He and when we had dinner he’d warned me not to marry Eddie because he said singers are never faithful."

Debbie admits she should have listened to him as Eddie then fell in love with her close friend Liz Taylor.

"I was very surprised, everybody knew apart from me!" said Debbie. "Liz and I made up when we were on the same transatlantic crossing, she was with Richard Burton.

"We had dinner and stayed up into the early hours. Richard Burton was regaling us with poetry – he could take his drink, that man!"

Debbie went on to divorce two more husbands – Harry Karl, who bankrupted her and Richard Hamlett. Now she’s no longer interested in men, just performing.

"I’m going to perform until I die. I think a great way to go would be to drop dead on stage!"

And with that, Debbie bid me farewell and was off to have lunch with another great friend, the legendary Jane Russell.

Debbie Reynolds at Venue Cymru on April 15 at 7.30pm. Tickets £17-£25 on 01492 872000.