'From the Archive' part two: Zoë's first ever TV role – a troubled teen called Sally

20 August 2014 22:13

This is the second article in 'From the Archive', a series launched last month to celebrate this website's twelfth anniversary. The series explores Zoë's earliest roles, rare interviews, memorabilia and more.

Zoë's television work encompasses many hugely popular programmes, which have brought her international acclaim. She is well known for starring in series such as Love Hurts, My Family and Agatha Christie's Poirot, to name just a few; but have you ever wondered when Zoe's TV career began?

New Year is traditionally a time of new beginnings, and this was certainly true for Zoë in 1971. She made her TV debut on 3 January, when ITV broadcast a 25-minute drama, 'Sally for Keeps', in which she plays the title character. It must have felt wonderful to secure a TV role so soon after drama school – Zoe had completed her studies at London's Central School of Speech & Drama just the previous year.

Shortly before 'Sally for Keeps' was shown, the TV Times introduced the young actress to its readers as the 'daughter of American actor-director Sam [Wanamaker]'. Although in her early twenties at the time, Zoë was cast as a teenage girl in the programme, which was scripted by well-known writer Ken Taylor.

Zoë's character, Sally, is a kind but troubled teenager, who has been living for some time in a children's home. When her kindly English teacher and his wife (played by James Grout and Barbara Leigh-Hunt) invite Sally to spend Christmas at their home, they are faced with an important question: should they invite her to stay 'for keeps'?

'Sally for Keeps' is part of the series Turn of the Year, which examines emotive subjects such as fostering and family life. In particular, the series looks at how the spirit of change associated with the Christmas and New Year period can bring such subjects to the fore.

I would love to be able to show you a clip of Zoe's performance as Sally. Unfortunately, 'Sally for Keeps', like many other programmes of its era, is missing from the TV archives. The black-and-white photo above, showing Sally, her English teacher and his wife, is the only image I have been able to find from the programme.

In 2012 Zoë discussed her TV debut when she was interviewed for BBC arts series Mark Lawson Talks To... 'There was a religious slot [in which 'Sally for Keeps' was broadcast], and I worked with Barbara Leigh-Hunt,' Zoe commented. 'And I was very "Method" at that time – in a way I still am, but [then] I was really Method,' she added, referring to the set of techniques that actors can use to draw on their emotions and memories when performing.

'Lost' TV shows do turn up from time to time (the discoveries of early Doctor Who episodes spring to mind), and so let's keep our fingers crossed that one day we find that a copy of 'Sally for Keeps' was kept by a TV company or 1970s viewer... Meanwhile, if you remember watching Zoe's TV debut, it would be great to hear from you.

There are more details about 'Sally for Keeps' in the guide to the programme in the TV section.

More articles in the 'From the Archive' series will be published here from time to time. If there is a topic that you would like to write about – for example, perhaps you saw Zoe on stage in the 1970s or have a rare or unusual item connected to her career that you would like to discuss – please feel free to contact me about writing a guest article.

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