“Pretty Girl” Roles
As Lynda Carter continued to land acting roles in film and television, she began to notice a pattern in the type of characters she was getting cast as. She was always playing “the pretty girl,” as she told The New York Times, and while this enabled to her qualify as a member of SAG-AFTRA (the Screen Actors Guild ‐ American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) – which was important if she wanted to get bigger acting parts – she felt that what she was doing wasn’t much different from her beauty pageant days.
Then, an opportunity arose that would address Lynda Carter’s trepidations – and change her life forever.
Getting the Part
Lynda Carter had managed to make a small place for herself in the entertainment industry, but despite her small roles in popular television shows, as well as her work in radio jingles and gigs, the acting lifestyle was seriously biting into her savings.
Her funds were almost depleted, and she was seriously considering the possibility of returning home to her parents, when suddenly, she received a phone call from her manager.
The actress Joanna Cassidy, with whom Lynda was competing for the role of Wonder Woman, had lost the part to her; thanks to Lynda’s earnest performance, she was going to star as the lead character in a TV show!