‘I Dream of Jeannie’ star Barbara Eden: I was ‘careful’ around ‘playboy’ Desi Arnaz
nypost.comLucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.The “I Dream of Jeannie” actress, whose third acting job was an appearance in a 1957 episode of their iconic family sitcom, looked back on her friendship with the couple — and why she had to steer clear of Arnaz at certain times.Eden revealed she “had a little difficulty” with her second job because of a “diva” she worked with, who she claimed didn’t like her.
That made her cautious about taking on the “Lucy” guest role.“I was really worried,” Eden, 90, revealed Saturday during a Christmas Con panel, according to People.When the “Jeannie Out of the Bottle” memoir writer realized she would be working with Ball, she thought it best to “be very careful [and] stay out [of her way],” fearing that she would get on Ball’s bad side.“And I knew Desi was a playboy, so I knew I had to be careful there,” Eden added.However, it turned out that Eden’s experiences with Ball were nothing but joyful. “She was wonderful!
She was absolutely a wonderful, beautiful person to work with,” Eden said. “She was lovely!” “Being the Ricardos” star Alia Shawkat — who played “I Love Lucy” screenwriter Madelyn Pugh in the 2021 Aaron Sorkin drama — admitted she wasn’t surprised to learn that Arnaz was unfaithful to Ball during their marriage.“She married a Cuban,” the “Arrested Development” actress, 33, told Page Six at the film’s premiere last December.“I assume there were dalliances,” she said, clarifying that she doesn’t believe that all Cuban men are cheaters.
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