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was hungry enough to walk miles for tea and sandwiches and cakes. She came with little interest in the proffered job. But she ate with fervor and application and continuously — dozens of little sandwiches, and tiny cakes and gobs of tea.
For the first time in days she had that comfortable full feeling around her middle. For the first time she was warm !
When the manager again talked to her of a job he pointed out that it was a fairly good wage — five pounds a week and dinner.
"It wasn't so much the money he offered, but the idea of having dinner assured each and every night — of never knowing hunger again — that appealed to me as nothing else could have."
She could really write glowing letters to her mother now and tell her that she was well and happy. For weeks even notes had been difficult to write, for she had had to lie in every sentence. And hold her tears in check for fear they might mar the note paper.
Dinner ! Yes, she would work. Of course, she would come and be a dancing girl.
And there is an epilogue to this story. It revolves around that be-furred coat which put Merle Oberon on a starvation diet for weeks. She wore it and was noticed and admired in it. And so it served a purpose ! But to her it stood for weeks of hunger pangs.
Her desperate days were at last at an end. She was working, meeting people who gave her entree into the film studios, where her ambitions lay. At last she was beginning to realize her first dreams — to be in a position where she could give her mother all the luxuries Mrs. Thompson had missed since her husband's death.
For two years Merle worked obscurely in films, playing bits or perhaps only atmosphere.
Then her big chance came ! Alexander Korda and his wife were having luncheon at the British and Dominion Studio restaurant, and nearby sat Merle Oberon. Korda's wife pointed at her and said, "That is the most striking face I have ever seen."
Two months later Korda sent for Merle Oberon and cast her in Wedding Rehearsal. Later came leads in Men of Tomorrow and then she was cast as Anne Boleyn with Charles Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII.
Hollywood discovered her. And from then on her climb to fame is history. Today with Goldwyn's production These Three she has become one of the outstanding stars of motion pictures.
Hunger is forever behind her !
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