Eva Gabor made sure her frocks were designer on the set of Green Acres

Lisa needed to look fabulous, "dahling."

MGM Television

As a lady of luxury, Eva Gabor wasn't willing to compromise on the finer points of her lifestyle. Fortunately for Gabor, Paul Henning, the executive producer of Green Acres, wanted her in his television show specifically because of her expensive and luxurious taste.

Gabor's explanation of her character, Lisa Douglas, was explored in Darwin Porter's book, Those Glamorous Gabors: Bombshells from Budapest. "My character was inane, but popular," she said. "I was more Marie Antoinette than Lisa Douglas, but who's counting?"

Gabor wasn't unaware of her character's cluelessness; rather, she was aware and embraced it. "I was supposed to be a complete idiot in some scenes," she said. Of course, Gabor knew that beyond her absentmindedness, Lisa Douglas was still an entertaining character, so long as she was grounded in the qualities that made Eva Gabor so special.

The book claimed that before taking on the role of Lisa, she and Paul Henning agreed that her character would only appear in Jean Louis designer frocks. "I was a dazzler in my silk, organza, and chiffon, along with my ostrich feathers, sequins, and rhinestones," she said. "On some episodes, I appeared in seven different outfits."

Of course, this grandeur came at a cost. "Every morning, I had to get up before dawn and go to the studio in a chauffeur-driven limousine to face my hairdresser," said Gabor. "My hair was teased and tormented. My character Lisa preferred a skyscraper hairdo on top of my head...I virtually had to give up my life to maintain this 4:30 am to 9 pm regime five days a week. No more partying for me. I almost never went out."

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10 Comments

boomerdragon61 25 days ago
She was my favorite character. Lisa wasn't clueless or an idiot at all. Everything she said made perfect sense, but only if you could see the situations the way she did, through her high brow citified eyes. I thought she was a ditz when I watched as a child, but re-watching as an adult, I tend to agree more with Lisa's take on most things. And I was a fourth generation farm kid LOL. Regardless, I believe Eva was an honest, decent character actor and I appreciate all her roles.
Drujon 28 days ago
“It gets kinda rough in the back of our limousine.”
Shelia E
Snickers 28 days ago
The way she talks you think being driven in a chauffer driven limo was some kind of hardship
MaryMitch Snickers 18 days ago
4:30 am to 9 pm, 5 days a week - doesn't sound like a walk in the park.
Snickers MaryMitch 18 days ago
I wouldn't mind it with all the perks and a pay check too
MrsPhilHarris 1 month ago
Lisa is a great character.
From all accounts Eva was a nice person. Zsa Zsa not so much.
I’ve heard that too.
McGillahooala 1 month ago
She was a great actress. It’s nice to see people who can laugh at themselves.
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