Instead, IMDB notes her “platinum blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, voluptuous figure, and seductive deep voice.” In January 1960, she was Playboy magazine’s Playmate of the Month, appearing in other pictorials later, and at least one publication called her “one of the most photographed women in the world.” I thought it was especially interesting that the Internet Movie Database list of her “trademark” attributes don’t mention her acting skills at all. Other roles quickly followed, and Stella managed to attract attention in other ways besides the movies. It was a bit part, but it must have been an important one, since it earned her a Golden Globe for “Most Promising Newcomer - Female.” The future star on the porch of her home on Carrington.Īt any rate, Stella was lured to Hollywood, where she began her long career in show business by playing a chorus girl in the 1959 Bing Crosby musical Say One for Me. Her mother also went by Estelle, when she felt like it, which makes any research on the young girl even more confusing than it should be. She was the only child of Thomas and Dovey Eggleston. All I can say for certain is that she wasn’t born in Memphis, and her name wasn’t Stella Stevens. Other sources say her birthplace was actually Yazoo City. On October 1, 1938, Estelle Eggleston was born in the tiny Mississippi community of Hot Coffee. But I’ll do my best to stick with the facts, as I know them. It seems that Stella’s long and dramatic life story is hard to pin down. Now, just where she did come from depends on what you read.

J.O., Memphis.ĭear J.O.: Let me begin this saga by saying that no actress named 'Stella Stevens' was born in Memphis. This column originally appeared in 2012.ĭear Vance: Can you tell me whatever became of Stella Stevens? She was born in Memphis, starred in movies with Elvis Presley, and then seemingly vanished. Editor's Note: Movie and TV star Stella Stevens, known to friends and family as Estelle Eggleston while growing up in Mississippi and Memphis, passed away on Friday, February 18th at age 84.

The Star and the Stellae by C.A. Nole