Nola Luxford, the only Cinema Player from New Zealand (1926) 🇺🇸

We have stars in our films from almost every country across the sea, including the Scandinavian. One of these days far off New Zealand is going to be represented in the cinema heaven. Already their representative is in our midst in the person of beautiful Nola Luxford.

by Cal York

She was not "discovered" dancing in a cabaret by an American producer; nor working for a mere pittance in a foreign film studio.

Nola wasn't discovered at all. And still isn't.

Three years ago she crossed the high seas, without any invitation from an American film company, but with a grim determination to break into our movies. Miss Luxford had read columns of propaganda concerning the difficulties that beset young girls trekking to Hollywood to do just this. But like the thousands of others, she believed this wasn't meant for her. She was going to succeed. However, she wisely fortified herself with enough capital to last one year. New Zealand is farther away from Hollywood than Massachusetts or Iowa are, and Nola figured it might take a year for her to get started.

After finding a modest place to live, near the film center, the little New Zealander began the usual rounds of the studios. Then she discovered that most of the newspaper stories were true. On all sides Nola met girls, just as pretty as herself perhaps, who had been storming the studio gates for four and five years, and were satisfied to get one or two days' work a week. She also encountered the legion who don't get even that much — the girls who often tramp the distance from one studio to another for lack of airfare.

Miss Luxford from New Zealand was not discouraged. Again she felt these conditions were not meant for her. She refused to allow anything to halt her purpose.

Gradually casting directors began to notice her gentle beauty, and to remember her. Soon she became one of the two-day-a-week workers. Then she got some bits, and parts, and now —

But this is not a success story. Nola Luxford is not a star, nor even a leading lady. She has advanced to playing in western pictures, and is doing that just now. She has appeared opposite Fred Thompson. Her courage is indomitable, and with her beauty and intelligence. Nola's friends are convinced she will have a success story before long.

And all New Zealand is waiting for Nola Luxford to make good.

Every advertisement in Photoplay Magazine is guaranteed.

Collection: Photoplay Magazine, April 1926