Debra Paget Biography

Fast Facts

• Won the Golden Boot Award from the Motion Picture & Television Fund in 1987 for her contributions to the development and preservation of the western tradition in film and television
• Encouraged by her mother, a former actress, she took her first paid acting job at the age of 8
• Quote: "(On working with Elvis Presley in "Love Me Tender") "I didn't know Elvis was to do the picture until it was time to do the film․ I was very shy, very quiet and very immature for my age․ I was in my very early 20's but I was emotionally more like a 16 year old․ Elvis and I just sort of came together like a couple of children really․""
• Signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox shortly after graduating from high school
• Was often cast in ethnic roles, as Indian princess, harem girls, or most notably, Lilia the water girl in Cecil B․ DeMille's "The Ten Commandments․"
• Enjoyed walking through the varied scenery in Twentieth Century Fox studio
• She didn't audition for "The Ten Commandments" film; Cecil B․ DeMille just called her and asked her to report for work after following her career and deciding she was best for the part