# Can you ID the actress in the Steppin' Out video? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185 "2016-08-08T20:29:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tamara\_La\_Sardaigne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@Tamara\_La\_Sardaigne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamara_La_Sardaigne)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/41 "2017-01-05T14:45:11Z")
Willows? CSI: Crime Scene Investigation? It’s Marg Helgenberger, who was about 23 years old when the video was made. Just watch the video (again) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/42 "2017-01-05T15:31:16Z")
Sez one of the YouTube comments: “The girl in this video went on to play the medical examiner in Inspector Morse.” FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/43 "2017-01-05T15:35:03Z")
Not Marg. Not even close. But thanks for bumping this. We might yet get to the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/44 "2017-01-05T15:46:43Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Sez one of the YouTube comments: “The girl in this video went on to play the medical examiner in Inspector Morse.” > FWIW. Clare Holman? Could be. > **[Clare Holman | Actress, Director, Writer](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t5)** > > Known for: Blood Diamond, Suite Française, Inspector Lewis ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/45 "2017-01-05T15:55:40Z")
Nope.[This is Marg Helgenberger in 1982](http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/gallery-shoot-date-march-23-1982-marg-helgenberger-picture-id472929952). Look at her nose. Then look at the nose of the woman in the video… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/46 "2017-01-05T15:56:50Z")
Interesting puzzle. She does look familiar - kind of like Carolyn McCormick from _Law & Order_ and _ST:TNG_ ([Carolyn McCormick | Memory Alpha | Fandom](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Carolyn_McCormick)), but I don’t think it’s her. No help here, either: > **[Steppin' Out (Joe Jackson song)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steppin%27_Out_(Joe_Jackson_song))** > > "Steppin' Out" is a song by English musician Joe Jackson, originally included on his 1982 album Night and Day. The song, inspired by Jackson's time in New York City, was his highest-charting single in America, where it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached the same position in Jackson's native UK. > The song is about the anticipation and excitement of a drive out around the town. Released as a single in early August 1982, it became Jackson's biggest hit in the United States, p... [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=8172](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=8172) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/47 "2017-01-05T16:44:08Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Nope.[This is Marg Helgenberger in 1982](http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/gallery-shoot-date-march-23-1982-marg-helgenberger-picture-id472929952). Look at her nose. I think I’m in love! :o ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/48 "2017-01-05T16:56:21Z")
I still say she’s Cynthia Rhodes, who was the dancer in another 1982 music video directed by Steve Barron: [Rosanna](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmOLtTGvsbM). ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/49 "2017-01-05T19:27:56Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I think I’m in love! You must be thinking of [Eddie Money](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJbBSIFN36k). This thread is related to Joe Jackson. > [@Sefton](#): > > I still say she’s Cynthia Rhodes, who was the dancer in another 1982 music video directed by Steve Barron: [Rosanna](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmOLtTGvsbM). That’s an excellent hypothesis, although it would be odd that she discusses other music videos she’d been in (leading up to her role in _Dirty Dancing_), but not “Steppin’ Out”. She’s retired now, and no longer married to Richard Marx, but they had three kids together. Surely, someone here could cast a wider net that would catch one of those five people and maybe get us some answers! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/50 "2017-01-05T19:41:52Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > I still say she’s Cynthia Rhodes, who was the dancer in another 1982 music video directed by Steve Barron: [Rosanna](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmOLtTGvsbM). Could be. You get the best look at her face starting at 1:40 in that video, and with dark hair, I think that just might be her. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/51 "2017-01-05T19:55:27Z")
I looked through Steve Barron’s [filmography](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006625/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1#director) on IMDb, and there’s no entry for directing the _Steppin’ Out_ video. Maybe the experience was so tragic that everyone burned the records. Steve Barron directed the _Take On Me_ video, the _Bille Jean_ video, and the movie _Electric Dreams_. What a guy! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/52 "2017-01-05T20:33:31Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > I looked through Steve Barron’s [filmography](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006625/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1#director) on IMDb, and there’s no entry for directing the _Steppin’ Out_ video. Maybe the experience was so tragic that everyone burned the records. > > Steve Barron directed the _Take On Me_ video, the _Bille Jean_ video, and the movie _Electric Dreams_. What a guy! Don’t canonize him yet. He never did answer my e-mail. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/53 "2017-01-05T21:50:05Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > I still say she’s Cynthia Rhodes, who was the dancer in another 1982 music video directed by Steve Barron: [Rosanna](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmOLtTGvsbM). You might be onto something here. There are some good, clear shots of the dancer’s left ear in both videos. Ear structure is a significant identifier and it sure looks like a match to my untrained eyes. Although it’s strange that her IMDB entry mentions Rosanna, and not Steppin’ Out. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/54 "2017-01-05T23:10:18Z")
[Moderating] Title changed at OP’s request. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/55 "2017-01-05T23:28:12Z")
Yeah, boy. That’s looking kinda likely. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/56 "2017-01-06T05:41:54Z")
I think it’s Cynthia Rhodes too. She was doing music videos in the early '80s. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/57 "2017-01-06T06:09:44Z")
Here is Cynthia in _ **Dirty Dancing** _. She has the same brown eyes as the girl in the video: [https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=AwrB8qEgMm9YoycASHmJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTI0YjNyczd2BHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM3NWQwNDc1MTAxMWVmMThjYTQyYTBmN2QyNmI4NjAzMARncG9zAzI3NQRpdANiaW5n?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dcynthia%2Brhodes%26fr%3Dmcafee%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26nost%3D1%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D275&w=1600&h=1092&imgurl=4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-GULcmkkIuuk%2FU0qGXGvQAOI%2FAAAAAAAAgKA%2FtyhYfkl-xnI%2Fs1600%2FDirtyDancing\_086Pyxurz.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fgalleryhip.com%2Fcynthia-rhodes-dirty-dancing.html&size=142.9KB&name=\Cynthia+Rhodes\<%2Fb\>+Dirty+Dancing+|+galleryhip.com+-+The+Hippest+Galleries!&p=cynthia+rhodes&oid=75d04751011ef18ca42a0f7d26b86030&fr2=piv-web&fr=mcafee&tt=\Cynthia+Rhodes\<%2Fb\>+Dirty+Dancing+|+galleryhip.com+-+The+Hippest+Galleries!&b=241&ni=21&no=275&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11nu8e7m3&sigb=13e5g21kn&sigi=133shavsv&sigt=12duvdefc&sign=12duvdefc&.crumb=SWv9CnpSWPt&fr=mcafee&fr2=piv-web](https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrB8qEgMm9YoycASHmJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTI0YjNyczd2BHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM3NWQwNDc1MTAxMWVmMThjYTQyYTBmN2QyNmI4NjAzMARncG9zAzI3NQRpdANiaW5n?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dcynthia%2Brhodes%26fr%3Dmcafee%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26nost%3D1%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D275&w=1600&h=1092&imgurl=4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-GULcmkkIuuk%2FU0qGXGvQAOI%2FAAAAAAAAgKA%2FtyhYfkl-xnI%2Fs1600%2FDirtyDancing_086Pyxurz.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fgalleryhip.com%2Fcynthia-rhodes-dirty-dancing.html&size=142.9KB&name=%3Cb%3ECynthia+Rhodes%3C%2Fb%3E+Dirty+Dancing+%7C+galleryhip.com+-+The+Hippest+Galleries%21&p=cynthia+rhodes&oid=75d04751011ef18ca42a0f7d26b86030&fr2=piv-web&fr=mcafee&tt=%3Cb%3ECynthia+Rhodes%3C%2Fb%3E+Dirty+Dancing+%7C+galleryhip.com+-+The+Hippest+Galleries%21&b=241&ni=21&no=275&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11nu8e7m3&sigb=13e5g21kn&sigi=133shavsv&sigt=12duvdefc&sign=12duvdefc&.crumb=SWv9CnpSWPt&fr=mcafee&fr2=piv-web) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/58 "2017-01-06T06:12:22Z")
Okay, who’s going to contact Cynthia Rhodes and ask her? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/59 "2017-01-06T13:38:09Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > It’s hard to get a look at her. Joe keeps getting in the way. 😉 > > I’m leaning towards Pam Smart as well. I’ll see if my Google-fu is any better than anyone else’s. It’s not Pam Smart. I can say that with 100% certainty. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185/60 "2017-01-06T14:12:36Z")
Well, there’s a fan site [facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/cynthiarhodesfanpage/) about Cynthia. If the page’s admin is a big fan, possibly he/she might be able to give some direction as to the likelihood. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-the-actress-in-the-steppin-out-video/762185.md?page=4)