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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DarkVader" data-source="post: 360603" data-attributes="member: 55893">The character of Pam Ewing as first written and intended was the show's female lead. The role/series was actually written for Linda Evans who at the time was under contract to Lorimar. Evans had an option to refuse the role if she didn't want to do it, which is what happened. The script then made the rounds in Hollywood in the hopes of casting another actress in the role. Victoria's actress friend got a hold of that script, read it and found that the character of Pam would be a good fit for Victoria. She then brought it to her attention. When Victoria read it she found that she had a connection with the character and that her friend was right, so she submitted herself for the audition under the guise that she was sending in one of her clients - Victoria was working as a talent agent and on her way to study entertainment law at the time - she auditioned for the role, won them over and got the part. The rest, as they say is history.Victoria at the point had been in the business for about a decade, but was always "under the radar" - aside from her movie debut in John Huston's "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" - which by the way earned her a Golden Globe nomination for "Best Newcomer of the Year 1972" her movie career was spotty. She followed that up with the woefully misguided "The Naked Ape", "Earthquake", "Vigilante Force" and "I Will, I Will For Now" - aside from "Earthquake" all those other films tanked at the box office. She became extremely frustrated with her career at this point and decided to become a talent agent with the hopes of going back to school to become an entertainment lawyer. The only reason she got back into acting is that she found she missed it when she played a role on the pilot to "Fantasy Island" as a favor to Aaron Spelling, who lured her by saying her salary on the show would pay her first year's school tuition.Victoria, has led a very interesting life - and at the time she made the scene in the early 1970s she was thought of as a party girl - she dated quite a number of men back then and let's say her reputation was not one of the best. Hollywood is a small town and people talk. "Dallas" not only saved her but saved her career and turned that reputation around for the most part. Her business savvy and knowledge of entertainment law is what led her to eliminate the clause in her "Dallas" contract which stated that Lorimar/CBS would own the rights to her likeness. This is why she is the only cast member who had book deals, television movie deals and exclusive product endorsement contracts outside of the show. No one else in the cast did.She may not have been the greatest actress - but I've seen worse (I'm looking at you Priscilla Beaulieu Presley) - and she handled the character of Pam beautifully - especially during the show's early run when Pam was gutsy, fiery and full of spirit. The change in her character does not lie with Victoria but with the writers. I am sure that it must have led to some frustration on her part but by then the show was a blockbuster and being the smart woman that she is she was gonna milk the success of that show for all it was worth until she felt it was time for her to leave - - - ON HER TERMS.And THAT'S why I love Victoria Principal.</blockquote>

Verification: What month follows July?