Dawn Wells: ''There's a lot of me in [Mary Ann].''

Mary Ann was the dream girl; Dawn Wells was the wonderful reality.

Warner Brothers

One of the most important questions that anyone can ask you is, Are you team Ginger or team Mary Ann? It’s a question that’s plagued our society since Gilligan’s Island premiered, and I’m not sure there’s any way to settle it over fifty years since the last episode aired. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t let Mary Ann say her piece. 

In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wells explained part of what she believed to be the difference between Ginger and Mary Ann.

She said, “Mary Ann would be the one that you would trust. She’d be kind to you. You could take her to the prom, or if she turned you down, she’d still be your friend, where you might be a little terrified to approach a Ginger because she was so much more worldly than you.” 

Speaking of working with Ginger’s actress, Tina Louise, Wells said, “It wasn’t really difficult for me. Tina had been in several movies and everything and was quite a big sex symbol, but we were never in competition or anything. We weren’t real buddies. We didn’t pal around together. But I don’t think Tina and I ever had any words about anything.”

Important in the Ginger versus Mary Ann debate is that Wells feels that Mary Ann is, at least in part, a reflection of herself. She said, “I think there’s a lot of me in [Mary Ann]. She’s a nice girl. She was principled. And I think that’s part of me, I hope.”

As for the actual debate, Wells was asked in The Times if the whole “Ginger or Mary Ann” debate offended her. Her response? Not at all. She said, “No! It doesn’t offend me. Because from what I’ve heard, I usually win!”

So let's hear it. Are you team Ginger, or team Mary Ann?

Watch Gilligan's Island on MeTV!

Sundays 3 & 3:30 PM

*available in most MeTV markets
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Close

10 Comments

normalperson 7 months ago
Mary Ann is the all American girl that guys dream of. Gorgeous, sweet, nice, etc. I wish women would go back to being feminine and more like her in todays society. She truly is a dream girl.
Fred_Clampett 7 months ago
Team Mary Ann, no doubt. Ginger was hot, but she flaunted that she was hot, which made her less hot. Vicious cycle.
birdnest 7 months ago
Team Mary Ann I have 2 sisters and this was always the topic we loved the show born 60’s
sagafrat69 7 months ago
Team Mary Ann for sure. She's the kind of girl you could take home to meet your parents. Ginger the movie star would've been out of most person's league. Kind of like asking Margot Robbie out on a date. No chance that's happening. Interesting fact is I believe Dawn Wells never married or had children. Don't think that Mary Ann would've lived Dawn Well's life. She was the perfect Mary Ann from Kansas.
McGillahooala 7 months ago
I like both Ginger and Mary Ann. They are two very different but very great girls.
BrittReid 7 months ago
We could tell and I pick you over Ginger.
WordsmithWorks 7 months ago
Ginger seemed too high maintenance. Mary Ann was definitely more approachable. Caviar and champagne versus cheeseburgers and milk shakes. Team Mary Ann was a no-brainer for me.
greenhornet66 7 months ago
i am team mary ann. i believe she is far more beautiful than ginger. ginger to me seems too stuck up, into herself and a true gold digger.
Runeshaper 7 months ago
Mary Ann was a wonderful person. Sounds like Dawn Wells was too!
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?