HOLLYWOOD legends Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal are coming to the Alhambra in a UK tour of Love Letters.

The actors, who shot to fame in Love Story, star in AR Gurney’s romance about first loves and second chances, heading here following a Broadway run and sell-out US Tour.

Ryan O'Neal plays Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, who wrote his first letter to Melissa Gardner (Ali MacGraw), telling her she looked like a lost princess, when they were both seven. For the next 50 years, through personal triumphs and despair, wars, marriages, children and careers, they poured out their heartfelt secrets to each other, defying a fate that schemed to keep them apart. Andrew and Melissa live for the one most meaningful thing in their lives - their undying love.

Producer David Ian says: “I am thrilled to be bringing two such huge stars to the UK in this wonderful and moving play. Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal ?are true Hollywood legends, it will be very special to see them live on stage together.”

Born in New York, Ali MacGraw started out as fashion journalist Diana Vreeland’s assistant at Harper’s Bazaar. her acting career began with a lead role in the film Goodbye Columbus and she got her break in the 1970 movie adaptation of Erich Segal’s best-seller Love Story, earning her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award.

Voted one of the top film romances of all time, the classic weepie about a young couple who defy the odds to be together, only to be torn apart by terminal illness, spawned the phrase "Love means never having to say you're sorry".

After Love Story, MacGraw went on to star in The Getaway, opposite Steve McQueen, who she married. Her other film credits include Peckinpah’s Convoy, Players and Just Tell Me What You Want, and In 1972 she was voted the top female box office star in the world. She has appeared in TV dramas including epic mini-series, The Winds of War, with Robert Mitchum and Dynasty, in which she guest-starred for a season.

In more recent years MacGraw published her autobiography, Moving Pictures, and the video Yoga Mind & Body.

Ryan O’Neal was born in Los Angeles, the son of writer Charles O’Neal and actress Patricia O’Callaghan. Ryan initially trained to be a professional boxer and his first job in the film industry was a stuntman on US TV series Tales of the Vikings. In 1964 came a major role in TV soap Peyton Place, and he went on to appear in films such as The Big Bounce and The Games. He was chosen from more than 300 hopefuls to play Oliver Barrett opposite Ali MacGraw in Love Story.

The film was a huge success, landing O’Neal Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor. He later turned to comedy, starring opposite Barbara Streisand in 1971 smash hit What’s Up Doc, and played a drifter working con games with his daughter, played by real life daughter Tatum O'Neal, in Paper Moon. O'Neal was nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe for the 1973 film and Tatum won an Oscar, aged nine, for Best Supporting Actress.

Ryan O’Neal's other film credits include Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, The Driver and Chances Are. He married Charlie's Angels actress Farrah Fawcett and they co-starred in TV miniseries Small Sacrifices and sitcom Good Sports.

He can currently be seen on crime drama Bones.

* Tickets for Love Letters go on sale on Monday . It runs at the Alhambra from September 25 - 30. Call (01274) 432000.

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