NAMES IN THE NEWS : Tomboy Donna Douglas Natural

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Playing the role of tomboy Elly May Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies” was easy for actress Donna Douglas.

“I never claimed to be an actress,” said Douglas, who won several beauty contest titles before heading to Hollywood for the 1960s’ show. “I’d only been in acting school one week. They asked me if I could play that part, and I said sure. It was like a slice out of my life. It was a piece of cake.”

“The Beverly Hillbillies,” a CBS comedy about a Tennessee family that moved to Southern California after oil was discovered on their land, was rated No. 1 for two of its nine seasons.

Since the show was canceled in 1971, Douglas has recorded country and gospel music albums.