Actress Stephanie Beacham well remembers her first encounter with the glamor of Hollywood. In 1969 the fresh-faced Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts graduate was starring next to Ava Gardner.

"She was my first real Hollywood leading lady and I remember she made me stand on a box to shoot scenes with her," says Stephanie, former Dynasty star and, lately, playing Luke Perry's mother in Beverly Hills 90210.

"It has only been in the last couple of years that I finally came to understand why she made me do so - the camera would catch her looking up at me, thereby removing the bags under the eyes and any unwanted chins!

"She had the extraordinary ability of drawing smoke without indenting her cheeks or pinching her mouth, and although she also drank a great deal, she was entirely glamorous."

British-born Stephanie, who also stars as Dr. Westphalen in Steven Spielberg's new TV series seaQuest decided at the age of 17 that she wanted to follow Ava and the women she chose for her glamor/Oscars tribute - Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Lucille Ball and Ann-Margret.

Stephanie, 47, laments the state of affairs in Hollywood today - both in the dress code adopted by many of her colleagues, and the shortage of good meaty glamor roles.

"Apart from the old star who grew up when Hollywood had a studio system, few actors understand their obligation to the public to look glamorous in public," she says.

Stephanie longs for a return to the glamorous roles which were her trademark in the Eighties.

"As much as I am enjoying the intelligence of Dr. Westphalen of seaQuest and the chance to play the part convincingly, it is like acting with my arms behind my back."

Stephanie's salute to the Oscars - this year the honors are being handed out on March 21 - gave her the chance to wear the gowns of the king of American glamor couturiers Nolan Miller, who was responsible for the outfits of Hotel, Dynasty, Dallas and The Love Boat. And when Stephanie slipped into the roles of Sophia, Elizabeth, Lucy and Ann-Margret, she was also wearing gowns designed by Nolan and worn by each of these women to the Oscars over the years.

"Nolan knows how to enhance and flatter a woman's assets and he is the first person people come to if they want an outfit which is drop-dead gorgeous," she says. "They are transforming."

The gowns assisted Stephanie in taking on and interpreting the personalities of her chosen subjects, who by her own admission she otherwise has little in common with.

"I chose each of these women because they are examples of people who survived tragedy and could return and re-invent themselves. All of them have used glamor as a tool for survival and survived the dreaded turning point of 50."