Citations

Good night . . . and stay happy.

Hollywood sold its stars on good looks and personality build-ups. We weren't really actresses in the true sense. We were just big names--the products of a good publicity department. Today's crop of actresses and actors have real talent. Good looks are no longer an essential part of the business.

Sometimes, I'll watch an old movie on television and, once in a while, one of mine--such as Cavalcade d'avril (1948)--will come on and I'll watch it. And you know something? I'm always amazed at what a lousy actress I was. I guess in the old days, we just got by on glamour.

[on her long-time friend Lucille Ball and her second series, The Ann Sothern Show (1958)] Lucy used to complain that she got all the parts I turned down. Now I produce the show, and she owns the studio. I guess that settles that.

Listen, I never asked to be in show business. It was my mother's idea.

People never think of me as a singer. But singers aren't always good actresses, and, thank goodness, they think of me as an actress.

[on her co-stars in Les baleines du mois d'août (1987)] Lillian [Lillian Gish] is a person first and then a movie star. Bette [Bette Davis] is a movie star.

I only like character parts. I never wanted to be a leading woman.

[on her Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract years] You didn't have to walk to the set. There was always a limousine. I never thought you stopped making money and grew old.

I love Lucille (Ball), and I know she loves me. Furthermore, I'm one of the few people who call her Lucille. I understand her. A lot people think she is tough. But that's just her way. She's soft inside.

I'll never do a television show that children can't see. It's the duty of everyone in television to keep their shows for the family audience.