Quotes

Every once in a while I think I'll get a place of my own. But it's really very expensive. I know that's the biggest cop-out of all time. But I care for my parents and we really get on.

[on her own Ironside (1967) character]: And unlike Barbara Anderson's rich girl image, I play the daughter of a police captain who was killed and framed by gamblers. I'm out to clear his name and that's why I go to Ironside. Ironside knew my father and knew me since I was a child.

After Lancer (1968) went off, I went on auditions for roles I know I should have won. But I didn't get them. Finally, I called my agent and asked him what I was doing wrong. He checked and called back to tell me the producers felt I "didn't have enough energy". I just walked in quietly, introduced myself, then got to the reading. Well, the next interview after that, I really was so embarrassed. I went into that office bouncing off the walls, being the jerk of the century. I felt so phony and I made a complete ass of myself. But I got the part and I have gotten every one since then. You just have to be bigger than life in an audition. Also, in TV, so many people are so insecure. They have to see a performer as the person they are casting. They haven't time to visualize you in the role.

[When she chose to study acting]: My family finally agreed to let me attend Estelle Harmon's classes, figuring I was only going through a phase and would quickly grow out of it. I guess they figured a few classes with Estelle would prove I didn't really have talent.

[About the characters' feelings on Ironside (1967)]: Everyone else had their little inside jokes, their understanding looks among themselves. They had their characters completely pat. I had to come in and establish myself within the workings of the group, without being too obvious about it.

[When she was excited on getting her role on Ironside (1967)]: My first day on the set. I thought to myself, 'Wow! I'm working with Raymond Burr!' I got the shakes, and couldn't remember a line. This is the hardest work I've ever done; I think being a regular on a show is the hardest thing you can do. Not that you're just background - on Ironside everybody's involved - but you do generally do the same things every show; you have to keep up some kind of energy in your character.