Par : Leslie Cottle

Leslie Cottle — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 01:42:02 +0000

It breaks my heart to see such a timeless, architectural masterpiece succumb to fire like so many other stunning historical gems. Thank God they managed to save part of it!
Years ago, I had the absolute honour of playing the role of the opera diva Maria Callas in a CBS mini series about Jackie O. One of my scenes was in the hallway between the two outstanding ballroom which was meant to be the jaw-dropping Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, which I’ve had the joy of seeing in person.
Coincidentally, just like Mr. Twain, the scene in the hallway was a very long reception line for a formal gala where myself (as Callas) and my beau Aristotle Onassis (played by Phillip Baker Hall) dressed to the nines shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with Jackie Kennedy (my character’s nemesis) and JFK. And the other scene was in one of the STUNNING ballrooms. I didn’t experience any paranormal activity, not that I would have noticed…being on cloud nine the whole time, but being such an amazing true to life re-creation with such legendary icons, it felt so realistic that is was as if we had been teleported back in time. Or perhaps the spirits of ‘icon’s past’ had returned from the grave. I could have sworn that the Diva herself was lingering around me on several occasions. It’s a long story, about a small role in a made for TV mini series… but it truly was a magical and surreal experience. It was the easiest role to step into and the hardest to let go and come back to modern day reality.
I’ve had much bigger roles in my career but being a part of that project and playing such a worldly renowned icon whom I have always adored, not to mention acting opposite amazing actors, playing some of the most famous in modern history was for me, as an actor, truly a dream come true. And that gorgeous architectural gem, with all its incredible history, including JFK actually staying there, made my experience even more authentic for me. Those decadent gold encrusted walls and soaring hand painted ceilings feel as though they still reverberate with the echos of countless memories and ghostly whispers from a truly enviable bygone golden era. The breathtakingly decor easily rivals Versailles and sadly is almost obsolete today. I only wish I could have seen it back in its palatial entirety. What a site it must have been, fit for royalty. Sorry for the ramble down nostalgia lane!

Commentaires sur : Blogue #73 de Montréal hanté – Hôtel Windsor

Par : Leslie Cottle