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Gym Suit Sparked 7-Decade Acting Career
16 Jun
Summary
- A disliked gym class led to a dance and acting career.
- She trained with modern dance icon Martha Graham.
- Bain earned three consecutive Emmys for Mission: Impossible.
Barbara Bain's extensive acting career, spanning over seven decades, owes its origin to an unexpected choice made during her college years. While studying at the University of Illinois, a strong aversion to physical education classes, particularly the required green uniform, propelled her toward a modern dance class.
This introductory dance experience was transformative, leading Bain to pursue dance seriously in Chicago. Her training with Martha Graham, a pivotal figure in modern dance, profoundly influenced her later acting methods. She learned the importance of dedicated preparation before facing casting directors.
Initially hesitant to embrace acting, Bain eventually explored the discipline and discovered a passion for it. After extensive study, she auditioned and quickly secured roles in film, television, and a Broadway tour within her first week, earning her union cards.
Bain is most celebrated for her role as Cinnamon Carter in the original Mission: Impossible, earning her three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She also starred as Dr. Helena Russell in the science-fiction series Space: 1999, solidifying her place in television history.
