Polly Bergen

Polly Bergen (born Nellie Paulina Burgin on July 14, 1930, in Knoxville, Tennessee) was an American actress, singer, television host, writer, and entrepreneur. She gained recognition for her Emmy Award-winning performance as Helen Morgan in the 1958 TV movie Helen Morgan (Playhouse 90). Bergen was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in Follies in 2001. Her film credits include Cape Fear (1962) and The Caretakers (1963), earning her a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. Bergen hosted her own variety show, The Polly Bergen Show, was a regular panelist on To Tell the Truth, and appeared in The Sopranos and Desperate Housewives. She authored three books on beauty, fashion, and charm and served as inspiration for the character Mother Goose in The Land of Stories.