Sections

Biography
Filmography
Theater
Television
Radio
Achievements
Quotes
Awards
Fast Facts
TV Appearances

Quotes

"Hollywood can't believe that anyone does anything without an eye on the public, as if every actor wants to read about himself in the papers. It's depressing to think that such an artificial and unbalanced community exerts so much influence on our country."

"Feminism has its virtues, but I think we're pushing too hard, upsetting ourselves too much."

"I don't think I'm much good in pictures, and I have a beautiful dream that I'm elegant onstage."

"Sometimes I became so melancholic that I felt all actresses should be spayed so they couldn't have children. It's so very difficult to balance the careers of motherhood and the theater."

"Celebrity has always struck me as a dubious and transitory claim to achievement in our society. Status seekers and other so-called glitterati stand precariously on shifting sands, ever in danger of being swallowed up and then replaced by a fresh throng of famous or notorious stars."

"Although I don't look back warmly on this final stage of my career, at least I am not embarrassed by anything I was connected with. There were no horror pictures and no sleaze. Everything was geared to what they call 'family audiences.' I'm proud of that."

"Sometimes when I'm asked what I've been doing since retirement, I'm tempted to answer, 'I accept honors.' That may sound egotistical, but the truth is that almost every honor or award -- and I've collected quite a few, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- has embarrassed me. Why single me out just for doing what was asked of me? I didn't go out and serve, but was always recruited for some service or another."

"Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it did alright by me."

"After all my years in the theater, I can look back on only a handful of moments that met my own standards of perfection. When you transcend yourself and really get inside the character, it's like being touched by God. That happened to me once or twice while I was playing Victoria (in Victoria Regina)."

"It is seldom that a playwright has the privilege of hearing his character realized exactly as he imagined it. Tonight, you have given me that."
-- Eugene O'Neill to Helen, about her radio performance of his play The Straw; earlier in her career, Helen was denied the same part by O'Neill for lack of experience.