The Stage

Powers misses panto performance in work permit mix-up

Published Thursday 8 January 2009 at 16:15 by Lalayn Baluch

American actress Stefanie Powers, best known for starring in US show Hart to Hart, was forced to miss a pantomime performance at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre after being detained by immigration officers at Heathrow Airport because of a work permit mix-up.

Powers, who is currently appearing as the fairy godmother in the Mayflower’s production of Cinderella, was held at the airport yesterday after flying in from Los Angeles, where she had travelled to on New Year’s Eve to see her mother who was taken ill and subsequently died.

A spokesperson for the theatre explained that when Powers initially flew into the UK in November, her passport was not correctly stamped and a copy of her work permit was lost.

The spokesperson added: “Ms Powers was stuck at Heathrow for over an hour and no amount of wand-waving seemed to be able to magic her free.”

The show’s producers and lawyers argued with immigration officials for an hour before the actress was allowed to leave.

Powers, who will resume her role today, said: “I am delighted to have returned to Southampton, even though there was a slight delay checking my fairy credentials by the British immigration.”

Cinderella, which also stars Christopher Biggins and Matthew Kelly, completes its run on January 17.