Now eighty-four, Prudence Emery apprenticed at Expo 67, managed public relations for the Savoy Hotel, and became Canada’s longest-serving movie publicist. Nanaimo Girl: A Memoir is her frolicsome recounting of an eventful life as the light behind the stars.
Who arranged for Pierre Elliott Trudeau to go to the London premiere of Funny Girl, where he met and began dating Barbra Streisand? Prudence Emery, of course. Who swapped clothes with Sophia Loren and arranged to take her children out trick-or-treating in Toronto? Pru, that’s who. And you can guess who found a private beach for Paul McCartney and his family in the Bahamas when they were besieged by fans.
“Where are you from?” asked McCartney. “Nanaimo,” said Emery. “I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you,” advised the ex-Beatle.
Liam Lacey occasionally brushed with fame as the long-time film critic for the Globe and Mail.
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