"I CAN'T help but smile when I hear about my lonely way of life," said luscious Debra Paget, who's no longer the quiet little mouse she was. "I could fill dozens of hope chests with all the unfounded stories and items about my dateless nights . . . my family apron strings my lack of a romantic interest .
"It gets upsetting to have others decide what your hopes and dreams are; actually giving the answers for you. For a change, I'd like to speak up for myself.
"I do not live a lonely, dateless life!
"I am not unhappy. Do you realize there are 10 of us in the family who live at home? Ten! The other night when we gave a birthday party for my brother, Frank, the walls really bulged.
"How can you be frustrated and desolate with such a madcap bunch around? Honestly, you should hear my father snort when he reads some of those items that describe my cloistered home life. 'Wonder what Debra Paget they're describing?' he grins. 'Couldn't be my little girl!'"
You begin to understand her father's point of view when you consider "silent, sheltered" Debra's favorite after-dinner sport is wrestling!
"We have five television sets at home," she explained, "because no two of us like the same program. When we do get together in the living room, I love to try out some new wrestling hold I've seen on my nearest victim."
The other evening it was her brother, Frank, who received the latest version of a half-Nelson. The two were having a great time rolling on the floor, when Deb's head suddenly connected with the new wrought- iron coffee table.
"Oh!" gasped Frank all a-twitter, "did we hurt the table?"
There's definitely no special star treatment for Debra. "How could there be? We're all actors. We really need a system with such a large family; that's why we each have certain household chores whether we're working or not. Everybody pitches in and does her share.
"Mother or my older sister, Tela, take turns cooking, while I always draw the short straw and wind up wash- ing the dishes. But I'm taking care of that. Whenever I do the shopping, I always come home prepared with paper plates and cups. That saves an hour of doing the dishes!"
Seems giving a party, Paget style, doesn't demand a lot of planning.
"Some member of the family is always bringing home friends, so we just keep the freezer stocked with ice cream, syrups and whipped cream," she confided.
"ACTUALLY shudder when I read those 'she's ruled with an iron rod' stories," she continued. "I don't know of any 19-year-old who could have more freedom and is so urged to make her own decisions.
"Everyone seems to pick on the idea that mother accompanies me everywhere. Well, I'd like to explain that once and for all. My mother grew up in show business. She knows acting like most people do their own face. I like her to be on the set with me. It makes me feel assured that she's not only rooting for me, but is handy to point out some deeper meaning in a dramatic scene than is at first visible. Some stars have drama coaches or secretaries constantly with them, so what's so strange about mother being with me? After all, who would have my best interests more at heart than she?"
Debra paused for a moment and then smiled, "Well now, I didn't have any idea of getting on a soapbox." Her laugh was easy and relaxed. "It's just such a welcome change to speak for myself, instead of reading what others say I do."
When Deb's at home, there's no end to the whirligig of things to do.
"What really turned into a project was fixing the play- room. It runs the length of the house. Mother and I gave that floor seven complete waxings until it graduated from a boy's room to a ballroom.
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