Hollywood likes to present the idea of the "overnight success"- the regular person who gets plucked out of the crowd to become an instant star. This was rarely the case, even in Hollywood's golden age. Studio chiefs often held back their biggest discoveries until they thought those finds were ready for the spotlight. This often meant background roles and disguises in smaller films. At the dawn of television, it meant paying your dues on the small screen, like Sharon Tate.
Martin Ransohoff signed Sharon to a film contract, but he wanted to test her out on some of his television shows. Her first few roles were on Mr. Ed, once as a telephone operator and another time as a young lady "entertaining" a sailor.
Her biggest television role was as Janet Trego in The Beverly Hillbillies. Since this was a higher profile role, Ransohoff placed her in a black wig.
By the time Sharon began making features, she would be sold as a bright new star- who was hiding in plain sight.
