Quotes

[in March 1923, when a reporter told her that Cecil B. DeMille was considering her to be his new leading actress] Wouldn't it be wonderful! Because he can so easily make every one of his actresses someone to really think about.

My part in The Ten Commandments (1923) brought me an avalanche of offers and, somewhat astounded, I accepted the most money, playing in a succession of independent productions. I was too easy-going, too content with the things that were coming my way again - clothes, good living, a luxurious background. I love comfort.

[on working with William Farnum in The Adventurer (1920)] Mr. Farnum gave me so many valuable suggestions and really brought me to Mr. Fox's notice. I feel that I owe this opportunity to him.

[in 1930] Even to this day I'm clothes conscious on the set. When I decided to do The Ten Commandments (1923) I had a net suit made that was skin tight and completely covered me. You couldn't see through it but it didn't pick up in the camera, so cleverly was it made. I always thought Mr. DeMille was a good sport to humor me in that.

Upon completion of Playthings of Desire (1924), in which I also played, Cecil B. DeMille sent for me. When I entered his office I noticed that he was writing. As he continued to write I had ample opportunity to study the room. One thing I liked particularly was a boat standing on a table. On the walls were knives, oriental and antique, all sorts of knives - more of a collection than I'd ever seen before. On the floor were several beautiful fur rugs. My gaze was resting on one of them when, at last, he stopped his writing, looked up from his desk and let me know he was aware of my presence. Mr. DeMille asked several questions about what I'd done. I named some of the pictures in which I had played the leads. He then told me that he planned, in the near future, to put on The Ten Commandments (1923). "Do you know them - the ten commandments, I mean?" he inquired. "I know the more important ones, anyway," I answered. A few days later I signed a contract with Mr. DeMille to play the part of Miriam, Moses' sister.

I never had sung in my life. Then I got a sore throat and the doctor took out my tonsils. He looked in my throat when it was healing and told me I would have to take vocal lessons or my throat would be stiff. So I went to a teacher and he had me sing. That was how I found that I had a voice.

[on her three failed marriages] About politics, I'm smart, but about men I'm stupid.

[on her return to films in 1944] Just call it second mortgage on a career. I hate comebacks. They didn't pull me out of the gutter. I wasn't dead.

[1944] There's no age on comedy or character roles. I've always been a character actress but nobody gave me a chance. I didn't even know it.

[on sex appeal] Sex is something you sense, not something you cover with a sweater.

[on her debut in silent films] I didn't have the technical background. They cast me as a snooty socialite, carrying a lorgnette and serving tea. I'd never been to a tea in my life. But now I know how to act. I've just learned that the way to act is not to act.

[on her 1944 return to Hollywood after eight years] I never fully unpacked my trunks. I knew some day I would come home. Sure, I was born in Wilmington, Delaware, but I have a terrific feeling for Hollywood - it's home.

[1944, reflecting on the idea people had about her when she was a star] I guess I was a little too outspoken. People didn't understand my sense of humor. It was too sophisticated. I made a lot of cutting remarks that I didn't mean. It was only for laughs, really.