Meet

LINDA THORSON

as

Miss Tara King

The new AVENGER girl who follows DIANA RIGG and HONOR BLACKMAN as partner to PATRICK MACNEE is 20-year-old LINDA THORSON from Canada, who began her working life as a secretary in her father's family business.

MISS THORSON was born Linda Robinson in Toronto on June 18th, 1947, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Robinson. She has a sister Barbara, 22, who is studying to teach physical education at Toronto University, and two brothers, Martin, 18, a scholarship student in maths and physics at Waterloo University, and Grant, seven.

On leaving Bishop Strachan School, Linda took a secretarial course and then went to work for her father, who has since sold his confectionary business and used his M.A. degree to change his career and take up teaching. Mrs. Robinson also took up a career for herself in real estate after her elder children left school. The family now live on a farm called Robindale in Ontario's Caledon Hills.

In 1965 Linda came to Britain and entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she remained until April of this year. She left with an Honours Diploma and a prize for the best student in voice production. While there she gained a singing scholarship (she is a soprano) and studied ballet dancing. She also plays the piano.

On childhood holidays at the family's vacation cottage in Muskoka, Ontario, Linda became expert in riding, swimming, diving and waterskiing on the Lake of Bays. At Toronto's Granite Club she was juvenile ice-skating champion.

In the Summer of 1966, Linda made a vacation tour of the Iron Curtain countries, and had an alarming experience in Moscow when her handbag, which contained her passport, was stolen. She was detained by the Moscow police, who, she says, "were absolutely charming when they discovered what had happened".

LINDA THORSON was chosen from 200 actresses who were considered for the part.