Quotes

[on her appearance] I've never been obsessed by how I looked. In fact, I would rather have looked more ordinary so I could play more parts truthfully. You know what I'm saying?

On her relationship with Garson Kanin: Well, darling, if you're unhappy in a relationship, I think you just don't trust yourself for getting into another one. Garson gave me confidence. He made me feel gifted and strong. He was so kind and thoughtful, so funny. He used to say to me, if people weren't in the best of condition, he would say 'Damaged goods'. I always thought that was funny. Now when people say, 'How are you?' I say, 'I'm damaged goods'. And I am. But Garson approved of me, and I knew I could help him, too. At the end of his life, I know I did. I loved taking care of him. I took care of my father when he was dying, so I had rehearsed that in an odd way.

[on her greatest achievement besides acting]: Maybe the teaching. I hope so. Because that's helping somebody. It was the hardest thing too, because it takes an energy. If you look away from a student's eyes at the wrong moment, you can hurt them.

[on her shoulder in 2010]: I wasn't used to pain. Except for having my daughter I've never been in a hospital. I've always had very good stamina and counted on never losing it. But I think I'm going to regain it. This award makes me feel optimistic about it.

[on her 2010 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the theater]: Yes, utterly. All I've done is live my life in the theater and loved it. If you can get an award for being happy, that's what I've got.