Chatter

EDDIE MURPHY: TROUBLED SHOOTER

HABIT FORMING: After playing scheming Sable in Dynasty and The Colbys, STEPHANIE BEACHAM is delighted with her new role as a nun on Sister Kate, a comedy that begins airing on NBC this fall. “It’s so much fun to take the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience after playing Sable, “says Beacham. The role change, however, meant she had to pay a quick visit to her folks back home in England. “I have to prove to my parents that I haven’t turned into a Jesus freak after having just been a millionairess, “she says. “They’re quite old. I think they get quite muddled with what I do.”

ALL’S WELLES: Now busy directing his first film, Harlem Nights (in which he also stars), EDDIE MURPHY may finally have exceeded the limits of his renowned versatility, “I am not enjoying making my movie. I’m producing the movie and I wrote it too, and it’s too much pressure on me, too much s—-,” Murphy says. Then, quickly regaining his hubris, he adds, “I figure if it doesn’t work, people’ll just say I took on too much. If it does work, people’ll say, ‘Wow, he’s another ORSON WELLES!’ It’s a no-lose situation.”

STAR SEARCH: When not traveling aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, WILLIAM SHATNER likes to jog. “In Baltimore recently I was on a long-distance jog when it started to pour,” says Shatner, who directed and stars in the movie Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. “I was on a busy road, and at every stoplight I came to I’d knock on windshields and say, ‘Would you mind giving me a ride?’ But they all drove off. Here I was, running along the side of the road banging on windows and looking for a lift. I was down to begging, ‘Haven’t you ever seen Star Trek?’ ”

PRINCE THOU ART: Britain’s PRINCE CHARLES, during a recent visit to Broadmoor, a special hospital for the criminally insane, quizzed a nurse about the types of maladies afflicting the patients. “Well, sir,” the nurse said, according to the London Evening Standard, “there are nine people here who think they’re you.” Ever gracious, Charles replied, “I feel for them. I sometimes don’t know who I am myself.”

A CHERRY DISPOSITION: While a lot of rap songs feature arrogant young men bragging about their sexual prowess, NENEH CHERRY cracks the mold by rapping insightfully on social issues and female independence. But don’t join those calling her a feminist. “It’s nice getting that sort of attention, because it’s more positive than negative,” says Cherry, whose hit single is called “Buffalo Stance,” “but I don’t label myself a feminist. Feminism gave women strength to break stereotypes and that’s important, but we’ve moved on, and we don’t need that label anymore. I don’t feel I need a tag to hide behind.”