Julie Stevens (American radio actress)

Julie Stevens
Julie Stevens is featured in this newspaper ad for the 20th anniversary of "The Romance of Helen Trent."
Born	Harriet Foote November 23, 1916 St. Louis, Missouri
Died	August 26, 1984 Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Alma mater	Christian College, St. Louis, Missouri
Known for	Playing Helen Trent in the radio soap opera, The Romance of Helen Trent
Spouse(s)	Charles Underhill (1944 - 1982, his death)
Children	2 daughters

Julie Stevens (November 23, 1916 - August 26, 1984) was an American actress who performed on radio, television, the stage, and in movies. She is best known for her 16-year run as the title character in The Romance of Helen Trent on radio.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, as Harriet Foote, Stevens attended Christian College.

When she was 13, Stevens danced in a musical production of Provincetown's Wharf Theater. She later acted with the St. Louis Little Theater. She also acted in Shakespearean productions at the San Diego Globe Theatre and was an actress with the Pasadena Playhouse. Despite that experience, Stevens was unable to land an acting job in New York, which led her to work as an usher at the Empire Theatre until an opportunity arose.

Stevens' work in radio began in 1940. Although she appeared in many programs in old-time radio, most of her work there was in soap operas, especially Abie's Irish Rose,Ethel and Albert, Kitty Foyle, The Light of the World, Road of Life, and Stella Dallas. She was best known, however, for playing the title role in The Romance of Helen Trent for 16 years. Radio historian Jim Cox reported that auditions for the Trent role occurred the day that Foyle (on which Stevens played the title role) had its final broadcast. He wrote:

She recalled dashing across the street to CBS in a torrential downpour after her final performance as Kitty to participate in the Trent competition. Soaked to the skin from the rain, she was met by another actress who had already auditioned. "Why on earth would you be interested in this part, Julie?" quipped the woman. "You're much too young to play it." Stevens was in her mid-20s and felt a little dejected by those words. But the producers never detected it. Stevens' crisp, velvet tones readily persuaded them, and she was signed for the lead.