Covering the Screen Actors Guild Award nominations this morning, the interview I enjoyed doing the absolute most was chatting on the telephone with surprise nominee Shirley Jones who is beloved for her starring roles in classic musicals "Oklahoma," "The Music Man" and "Carousel." Her dramatic performance in "Hidden Places" got her into exclusive category of best actress in a TV movie or niniseries alongside Helen Miiren and Annette Bening, among others.
I just called information, got her number and rang her up. Husband Marty Ingels answered and was over-the-moon. He is well-known for being quite eccentric but he is his wife's absolute biggest fan and made sure her work was noticed by Hollywood. In addition to the SAG nod, Shirley was also nominated for an Emmy Award last fall.

Despite her 1960 Oscar win for best supporting actress in "Elmer Gantry," Jones told me she has had trouble breaking free from her wholesome image from her beloved 1970s sitcom``The Partridge Family.''

``It's a nice feeling to know that after all these years, my fellow actors think I have something to say and give to the business,'' she said. ``The hard part for me always was to graduate from Mrs. Patridge to these kinds of roles. It's a big step for producers and directors of today who remember me from the show.''

Her husband Marty believes this is just the beginning for Jones who "will have a second Angela Lansbury kind of career."
Shirley is about as down-to-Earth as they come. She missed the Emmys because she was working (she keeps a full live concert schedule) but hopes to make the SAG ceremony. She is celebrating her nomination today by going to her mountain cabin with her dogs.

Here are my thoughts (you knew they were coming): I hope Shirley Jones, who has given us so much wonderful entertainment for so long, gets some really meaty roles as a result of the awards attention she is getting. She is a showbiz survivor, a mother beloeved by her sons and husband, has kept herself out there since the 50s and is still going strong. I hope she goes on forever.