Biografie

It is said that conductor Arturo Toscanini was so carried away by her performance in the title role of "Medea" on Broadway that he nearly fell out of his stage box applauding.

She was 87 years old when she appeared as the High Priestess in Star Trek III - Auf der Suche nach Mr. Spock (1984). She had come out of retirement after being away from motion pictures for 14 years. She was encouraged by her nephew to take the role and received a Saturn Award nomination for that role.

Made her soap opera debut as the grande dame, Minx Lockridge, on the NBC serial California Clan (1984) (which happens to be her hometown). When asked why, she replied "Why not? It's practically the same as doing a play.".

She was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1960 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to the performing arts.

She was friends with poet Robinson Jeffers, who wrote "Medea" which she starred in, and was a frequent visitor to his home Tor House in Carmel, California.

I have not myself a very serene temperament.

All of my work is based on nature. I grew up in a rural environment and living in the Bay Area allows for immediate access to wonderful natural environs. Basically, nature is my genius loci, or the place where my spirit resides.

I am inspired by many mediums and use them to express varied aspects of my philosophies and life observations.

Personally, I believe it is important for mankind to respect nature - for homeostasis - and I have volunteered with environmental organizations, I do not attempt to have an environmental leaning regarding my artwork.

There is nothing enduring in life for a woman except what she builds in a man's heart.