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'''Anya Major''' (born 1966) is an [[English people|English]] athlete, actress, model and singer who starred in [[Apple Computer]]'s [[1984 (television commercial)|"1984" commercial]], and in 1985 appeared as "[[Nikita (song)|Nikita]]" in the video to [[Elton John]]'s song of the same name.
'''Anya Major''' (born 1966) is an [[English people|English]] athlete, actress, model and singer who starred in [[Apple Computer]]'s [[1984 (television commercial)|"1984" commercial]], and in 1985 appeared as "[[Nikita (song)|Nikita]]" in the video to [[Elton John]]'s song of the same name.


In 1983, the [[Chiat/Day]] advertising agency held a [[Casting (performing arts)|casting call]] in London, on behalf of their client, [[Apple Computer]], for what would prove to be a landmark [[television commercial]]. The vision of the agency and director [[Ridley Scott]] stipulated an actress capable of running up to a large video screen, spinning with a [[sledgehammer]], and releasing it at the video screen. Most of the models and actresses tested struggled to do this; one errant throw nearly struck a passerby at the [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] casting call.<ref name="LinzmayerBook">{{cite book |last=Linzmayer |first=Owen |title=The Mac Bathroom Reader |url=http://www.curtsmedia.com/cine/1984.html |format=reproduction of chapter from book |access-date=2007-04-02 |date=July 1994 |publisher=Sybex Inc |location=[[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] |isbn=978-0-7821-1531-4 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329042247/http://www.curtsmedia.com/cine/1984.html |archivedate=29 March 2007 |deadurl=yes }}</ref> The petite Major, an experienced [[Discus throw|discus]] thrower who had been discovered at a local health club, won the role with her ability to handle the hammer convincingly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=1984.txt |title=1984 |access-date=2007-04-02 |last=Hertzfeld |first=Andy |authorlink=Andy Hertzfeld |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070405001838/http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=1984.txt |archivedate=5 April 2007 |deadurl=no}}</ref>
In 1983, the [[Chiat/Day]] advertising agency held a [[Casting (performing arts)|casting call]] in London, on behalf of their client, [[Apple Computer]], for what would prove to be a landmark [[television commercial]]. The vision of the agency and director [[Ridley Scott]] stipulated an actress capable of running up to a large video screen, spinning with a [[sledgehammer]], and releasing it at the video screen. Most of the models and actresses tested struggled to do this; one errant throw nearly struck a passerby at the [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] casting call.<ref name="LinzmayerBook">{{cite book |last=Linzmayer |first=Owen |title=The Mac Bathroom Reader |url=https://archive.org/details/macbathroomreade00linz |format=reproduction of chapter from book |access-date=2007-04-02 |date=July 1994 |publisher=Sybex Inc |location=[[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] |isbn=978-0-7821-1531-4 |deadurl=yes }}</ref> The petite Major, an experienced [[Discus throw|discus]] thrower who had been discovered at a local health club, won the role with her ability to handle the hammer convincingly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=1984.txt |title=1984 |access-date=2007-04-02 |last=Hertzfeld |first=Andy |authorlink=Andy Hertzfeld |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070405001838/http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=1984.txt |archivedate=5 April 2007 |deadurl=no}}</ref>


=="1984"==
=="1984"==
The commercial officially aired only twice on American television. It was first screened in December 1983, right before the 1:00&nbsp;am sign-off on [[KMVT]] in [[Twin Falls, Idaho]], so that it would be eligible for advertising industry awards for that year.<ref name=legend>{{cite web |url=http://www.curtsmedia.com/cine/1984.html |title=1984 Apple Commercial: The making of a legend |access-date=7 July 2008 |work=The Mac Bathroom Reader |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705224912/http://www.curtsmedia.com/cine/1984.html |archivedate=5 July 2008 |deadurl=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Pogue |first=David |authorlink= David Pogue |author2=Joseph Schorr |title=Macworld Macintosh SECRETS |publisher=IDG Books Worldwide| location=San Mateo, California|year=1993 |pages=251 |isbn=1-56884-025-X}}</ref> In addition, starting on January&nbsp;17, 1984 it was screened prior to previews in movie theaters for a few weeks.<ref name=legend/> Its best-known appearance was just after half-time of [[Super Bowl XVIII]] on 22 January 1984.<ref name="LinzmayerBook" /> Even with these limited appearances, the ad created such a media frenzy that it gained many subsequent free TV airings and print mentions, as it was discussed in the media.
The commercial officially aired only twice on American television. It was first screened in December 1983, right before the 1:00&nbsp;am sign-off on [[KMVT]] in [[Twin Falls, Idaho]], so that it would be eligible for advertising industry awards for that year.<ref name=legend>{{cite web |url=http://www.curtsmedia.com/cine/1984.html |title=1984 Apple Commercial: The making of a legend |access-date=7 July 2008 |work=The Mac Bathroom Reader |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705224912/http://www.curtsmedia.com/cine/1984.html |archivedate=5 July 2008 |deadurl=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Pogue |first=David |authorlink=David Pogue |author2=Joseph Schorr |title=Macworld Macintosh SECRETS |publisher=IDG Books Worldwide |location=San Mateo, California |year=1993 |pages=251 |isbn=1-56884-025-X |url=https://archive.org/details/macworldmacintos00pogu }}</ref> In addition, starting on January&nbsp;17, 1984 it was screened prior to previews in movie theaters for a few weeks.<ref name=legend/> Its best-known appearance was just after half-time of [[Super Bowl XVIII]] on 22 January 1984.<ref name="LinzmayerBook" /> Even with these limited appearances, the ad created such a media frenzy that it gained many subsequent free TV airings and print mentions, as it was discussed in the media.


Major later portrayed "[[Nikita (song)|Nikita]]" in the [[Elton John]] 1985 [[music video]] of the same name. As a spin-off, she released a single named "Moscow Nights" using the name Anya, and with that name, in 1987, she released another song named "One Word".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/454839-Anya-2 |title=Anya (2) Discography |publisher=[[Discogs]] |date= |access-date=2014-07-26}}</ref>
Major later portrayed "[[Nikita (song)|Nikita]]" in the [[Elton John]] 1985 [[music video]] of the same name. As a spin-off, she released a single named "Moscow Nights" using the name Anya, and with that name, in 1987, she released another song named "One Word".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/454839-Anya-2 |title=Anya (2) Discography |publisher=[[Discogs]] |date= |access-date=2014-07-26}}</ref>

Revision as of 23:32, 8 August 2019

Anya Major
Born1966
United Kingdom
Notable workApple Computer's "1984" commercial
SpouseKim Rajah
Children3

Anya Major (born 1966) is an English athlete, actress, model and singer who starred in Apple Computer's "1984" commercial, and in 1985 appeared as "Nikita" in the video to Elton John's song of the same name.

In 1983, the Chiat/Day advertising agency held a casting call in London, on behalf of their client, Apple Computer, for what would prove to be a landmark television commercial. The vision of the agency and director Ridley Scott stipulated an actress capable of running up to a large video screen, spinning with a sledgehammer, and releasing it at the video screen. Most of the models and actresses tested struggled to do this; one errant throw nearly struck a passerby at the Hyde Park casting call.[1] The petite Major, an experienced discus thrower who had been discovered at a local health club, won the role with her ability to handle the hammer convincingly.[2]

"1984"

The commercial officially aired only twice on American television. It was first screened in December 1983, right before the 1:00 am sign-off on KMVT in Twin Falls, Idaho, so that it would be eligible for advertising industry awards for that year.[3][4] In addition, starting on January 17, 1984 it was screened prior to previews in movie theaters for a few weeks.[3] Its best-known appearance was just after half-time of Super Bowl XVIII on 22 January 1984.[1] Even with these limited appearances, the ad created such a media frenzy that it gained many subsequent free TV airings and print mentions, as it was discussed in the media.

Major later portrayed "Nikita" in the Elton John 1985 music video of the same name. As a spin-off, she released a single named "Moscow Nights" using the name Anya, and with that name, in 1987, she released another song named "One Word".[5]

In 2006, Andy Hertzfeld of the Macintosh development team incorrectly stated that Major had died of breast cancer in 2000.[6] As of 2009, she lives in England with her husband Kim Rajah and their three children.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Linzmayer, Owen (July 1994). The Mac Bathroom Reader (reproduction of chapter from book). San Francisco: Sybex Inc. ISBN 978-0-7821-1531-4. Retrieved 2 April 2007. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Hertzfeld, Andy. "1984". Archived from the original on 5 April 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "1984 Apple Commercial: The making of a legend". The Mac Bathroom Reader. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Pogue, David; Joseph Schorr (1993). Macworld Macintosh SECRETS. San Mateo, California: IDG Books Worldwide. p. 251. ISBN 1-56884-025-X.
  5. ^ "Anya (2) Discography". Discogs. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  6. ^ Hertzfeld, Andy (speaker) (15 March 2006). Andy Hertzfeld at Google New York. Google. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
  7. ^ Crump, Steve (27 January 2009). "How KMVT launched Apple's Macintosh". Times-News. Twin Falls, Idaho. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012. The 42-year-old British mother of three still gets fan mail... {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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