For a generation who grew up watching TV in the 1950's, Irish McCalla
will always be known as Sheena,
Queen of Jungle; part
Tarzan, part Wonder
Woman and part Xena: Warrior Princess. This was a
role that was originally given to fellow actress/model Anita
Ekberg, but she pulled out days before shooting started to
star in a film with
John Wayne. What many have forgotten
is that before McCalla jump to the small screen, she was
one of the top pin-up queens of post-war America. (One of the highlights
of her pin-up days was being a model for legendary illustrator Alberto
Vargas.) Unfortunately, after
Sheena,
McCalla
was typecast and found herself in cult movies like "She Demons" and "Five
Bold Women". When her movie career ended, she shifted her efforts to her
real love--painting. McCalla was never bitter about her place
as a cult television icon; in fact a few years ago she posed for pictures
wearing her old Sheena costume, which still fit her, proving her love for
that part of her life.
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