After years of working on Perry Mason, Barbara Hale wasn't just playing a character; she became Della Street. The actor knew her character inside and out, having a better understanding of Street than plenty of the directors she came across. Crucially, Hale understood that Della Street was a powerful woman.

While the secretarial profession is frequently diminished by outside observers, Hale had a different perspective on Della's role.

"Her job is one of doing, not being told what to do," said Hale during an interview with the Daily News. "It helps present her as a definite personality instead of just a passive employee."

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Furthermore, Della was more than just Mason's employee. She was his friend and counselor, never too far to be able to offer up some needed emotional support.

"Della's close relationship with Mason, and the fact that he constantly confides in her, makes her a bona fide member of Perry's crusading team," said Hale.

The actor took a sense of pride in her work on the hit television series. "It has been a source of deep satisfaction," said Hale. "And, if anything, it has brought me much closer to the public than the movies did."

At times, Perry Mason may venture into the extraordinary. Hale enjoyed the fact that Street was a relatable character for audiences everywhere.

"As Della Street, there is a strong identification factor," said Hale, "since her work is something understood by thousands of other women in the country who earn their living as secretaries."