Blond curls and a pout that became a cult. It's now 50 years since Alison Arngrim played the obnoxious Nellie Oleson in Little House on the Prairie. A birthday that the American actress, now 62 years old, celebrated with joy during the Monte Carlo TV Festival, accompanied by other actors from the series. The opportunity to delve into good – and not so good – photography memories.
Paris match. The Little House on the Prairie series is celebrating its 50th anniversary. What does this anniversary inspire you?
Alison Arngrim. 50 years? But that means how old are we now? I've been asked if it makes us old. I said yes, but we're still cool. Have you seen Karen Grassle? [qui jouait Caroline Ingalls] ? Seriously, who looks like that at 82 years old? (He laughs). It's unbelievable.
Did you expect such a long life?
You have to remember that when we were filming the series, cable TV had not yet been invented, let alone DVDs and streaming. So the idea that people would still be watching it 50 years later… Michael Landon was aware of that. We're all taken aside, Dean. [Butler, l’interprète d’Almanzo]Melissa [Gilbert, alias Laura Ingalls] And others, to tell us: “Years after we're all gone, after I'm dead, they'll still be watching the show.”
Michael Landon, Alison Arngrim and Melissa Gilbert in the 1975 film “Little House on the Prairie.”
© NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
It is strange to think that he knew him who died so young [en 1991, d’un cancer, à seulement 54 ans]. When he said that, people responded that it was a great idea, but it was crazy. Why do they keep watching for so long and how? And here we are 50 years later!
Why do you think audiences remain so attached to this series?
There is something sentimental about this series. Viewers get to know their families while watching Little House on the Prairie. People come up to me and keep telling me how much the series reminds them of their childhood, when they watched it with their grandparents. The series has been broadcast in 140 countries, and we met fans from all over the world, including Peru! This is very amazing to us.
Alison Arngrim, Leslie Landon, Karen Grassle, Wendy Lou Lee, Melissa Sue Anderson, Matthew Laborio celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Little House on the Prairie,” at the Monte Carlo Television Festival, June 15, 2024.
SYSPEO/SIPA / © SYSPEO/SIPA
Seeing fans driving several hours to take their seats at 4am in the Grimaldi Forum, hoping to meet you in the evening… does this enthusiasm still surprise you?
It continues to shock us. Do you know how some fans get “Little House on the Prairie” tattoos? There's a man at the Monte Carlo festival who has his house tattooed on his shoulder. A while ago he inked it for me and went to the tattoo artist to get a tattoo with my signature on it. Another one had a great picture of Nellie Oleson on his forearm, and he had me sign it too and then I'd go to the tattoo artist… I have to be very careful when I sign, it becomes permanent and my handwriting isn't very good! I think there are at least four of my signature tattoos today.
When I was just starting to work on the series, I made my big entrance and ended up passed out.
Alison Arngrim
Is there an episode that fans often talk about?
Yes, the “Bunny” episode, where I roll down the hill in a wheelchair and end up in the pond. Because who does that? There were no seat belts, I was only wearing a nightgown and slippers, which was very dangerous, but still my favorite episode too. I've watched the scene a million times and I still laugh about it. I'm very proud of that!
What are your best memories from photography?
There's a lot in seven years! It's very difficult to choose. Probably the day I met Steve Tracy, who played my husband Percival on the show. When your character gets married, you don't know who you're going to marry on TV, so you hope he's handsome and nice… and this gorgeous guy, Steve, who's adorable with his freckles, shows up. We became friends immediately. I thought to myself, “If I'm going to kiss someone on TV and sleep with them and marry them, I might as well do it with them.” »
Steve Travie and Alison Arngrim (Percival and Nellie Oleson) in Little House on the Prairie, 1980.
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images / © NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
And memories from photography that you would rather forget?
First day of filming. It was over 37 degrees, I was fully dressed, my hair was styled, and it was very hot. I would write my first line and swear the sky turned green and the grass turned blue, it was so weird. Everything went dark and I said, “I think I'm going to faint!” “And prosperity. I collapsed. Here I was, having just started working on the series, making my grand entrance and ending up unconscious. It was a bit extreme (laughs).
She has been known as “Nelly Oleson” for 50 years. Did you wish to be famous for something other than this role?
Yes of course, as an actress, you want to be known for many roles. But you never choose what you're famous for. It's impossible to predict, whether you're a famous actor, painter or singer, what magical thing everyone will love. When I look back at everything I've done, I tell myself that if I had to remember only one thing, it would be Nelly Oleson.
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