Collin County Living Well Magazine Winter 2013 | Page 28

Elly May
Offers up
Some Vittles
By Nick Thomas

I

f ever an actor was recognized
by one career role, it was Donna
Douglas with her portrayal of
‘Elly May’ in the highly popular
CBS 60s comedy, The Beverly
Hillbillies. In the four decades since the
series ended its nine-season run in 1971, the
drop-dead gorgeous blonde native of Pride,
La., is still strongly identified with the show
wherever she goes.
Rather than distancing herself from the
connection to Jed, Granny, Jethro and the
Clampett clan, Donna has embraced her
sitcom heritage and stills makes public appearances as a real-life Southern belle.
“Elly was a slice out of my life,”
says Donna, whose new web site :
(www.donnadouglasofficialwebsite.com)
was launched in September. “I was raised
a tomboy, with one older brother and all
male cousins. So I grew up swinging from vines and playing
softball. I was getting ready for Jethro long before we ever
met! I still adore Elly and we have a lot in common, with the
same interests and values.”
After The Beverly Hillbillies ended, Donna was offered
many roles, but accepted just a handful which she felt

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Collin County Living Well Magazine • Winter 2013

wouldn’t compromise her standards. “I’ve got no regrets
about anything I turned down. I sold real estate for a while,
made a couple of record albums, and speak at churches,
ladies groups, and schools around the country. My days are
full and I’m very happy!”
This year, she also published a nostalgic cookbook,