"As far as acting was concerned, I simply did what I was told. This I was good at. For too many years I had searched for cues as to my father's disposition and desires. And this ability called forth praise of "How beautifully she takes direction!" You bet I did! In silents the direction went on during the action: after the camera turned, I'd hear, "Now look at him, Mary—that's it—you can't believe it! Tears come to your eyes—reach out and touch his arm—gently, gently." The more experienced actors would refuse anything but the minimum of offstage cueing, like perhaps, "You hear the door slam," but I wouldn't have been able to carry a whole scene without help. Not because I'd forget what we had done in rehearsal, but because I was afraid I'd do it wrong. You see, I was "stupid"—I really thought I was—and that was the role I played in life. It was very safe."
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Novelists from the United StatesMemoirists from the United StatesWomen authors from the United StatesCatholics from the United StatesActresses from Illinois
Original Language: English
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pp. 18–19
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mary_Astor
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Mary Astor
Mary Astor (born Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke; May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was an American actress. Her career spanned several decades and include her performance as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon (1941).
17 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Mary Astor →
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