George Fayne
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George Fayne is a character in the popular Nancy Drew mystery series. She is Nancy's best friend and cousin of Bess Marvin. Her real name is Georgia, although no one calls her that except her parents. (This is a change made in the 1980's; one volume, in 1960, mentioned her real name as Georgia on the title page, but this was later edited out. In the original novels her name was just George, named for her grandfather, with, depending on the ghostwriter, a chain of either boys or girls ahead of her.)[1] She has short black hair and brown eyes. She's a tomboy, athletic, and is not easily scared when involved in Nancy's sleuthing. Her boyfriend is first a friend of Ned Nickerson's named Buck Rodman; she later dates Burt Eddleton. She and Bess were introduced in The Secret at Shadow Ranch. In the Nancy Drew Girl Detective Series, she has a little brother named Scott. In the original version of "The Ringmaster's Secret," she has a nephew, indicating other siblings. A break in ghostwriters in 1933 resulted in George and her cousin Bess both being indicated as only children; their siblings, if there are any, are omitted from a will where their names are read.
Actresses Jean Rasey and Susan Buckner portrayed George in the The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries TV series of the late 1970's. The producers of Nancy Drew: The Mystery in Hollywood Hills (2007) cast Kay Panabaker in the role of George.
In the original series, George is a forward girl, and often less than proper in her demeanor and mannerisms. This, combined with a propensity toward clumsiness or dangerprone behavior, results in title of George the Terrible among adult collectors of the series. Her character becomes less outspoken, but is still prone to accidents as the series progresses. In the 1940's, she cuts her hair short, but only as short as the current styles. In the 1950's, she is described as wearing dresses and skirts, but ones which are tailored and simple in appearance. By the mid 1960's, she has learned judo, and helps Nancy when the boys aren't around to defend the trio of female friends by using her martial arts as self-defense. By the 1970's, her character is entering, and winning, many athletic competitions. In the 80's, she is still athletic, but less of a tomboy, and by the paperback series, is responsible, holding a part-time job in several of the stories.
