I’m Like This

I’ve always been exactly like this: Relaxed—and taking myself with a grain of salt! The thing is, ever since I can remember, I’ve enjoyed the simple things in the world and I still do, and as a result I get a tremendous kick out of living.

But the best way of knowing me (like knowing anyone) is to see for yourself—so let’s get started. I’m like this:

I’m not the fussy type in clothes: I just like to be comfortable. Give me suits and slacks and I’m happy—in every color, but particularly in the plain basic colors of beige, black and brown. High-heeled shoes leave me cold except with suits; I go for Grecian-type open sandals, and as a matter of fact I’d prefer never to wear shoes at all. As for hats, I hate them like nothing on earth and I won’t wear ’em. I also hate great big fur coats and spangles and sequins—in fact, I just hate fuss in clothes. Or, for that matter, in people!

I’m not fond of night clubs: And therefore I don’t go to them. I’m also very unfond of done-up parties. I like to relax, to sit on the floor and talk to people I like to be with. The people I like to be with I could name by the dozen-lot, but my very favorites are June Vincent, Jules Buck’s wife Joyce Gates, Louis Bromfield, his secretary George Hawkins, Gloria Stuart and her husband Arthur Sheekman, Thomton Delehanty, Gladys and Mark Hellinger—and a guy named Bogart. One actor, almost alone among a batch of writers.

I’m just normally clean: Everyone else manages to have some freakish trick about cleanliness, like fourteen showers a day. But I’m just the average. I take a bath once a day, brush my teeth twice a day and wash my hands quite often.

 

I’m not the flowery type—when it comes to perfume. And I don’t use any special brand, either, though I love perfume dearly. I just don’t Want too sweet a smell. I like a rich, good odor, and I like plenty of that!

I’m a sun-worshipper: I love the outdoors, and particularly sunshine. I truly love boats, and before I came to California I also used to enjoy riding horseback. Here I haven’t had time to indulge. I think my feeling for sports was born when I was a counselor at a girls’ summer camp, and I still have it bad!

I’m a bed-reader: I read myself to sleep every night, even if it’s only a page. My pet books are “Native Son” by Richard Wright and Maugham’s “Of Human Bondage,” which I read several times. I also liked “The Robe” very much. It’s a funny thing, though—only one man in my life has ever given me a book. The man was Louis Bromfield, and the book, “The World We Live In.”

I’m a fan of the funny papers: I like them all immensely and wouldn’t think of facing a day without reading them. But my specials are “Tiny Tim,” because I’m fascinated by the way he grows big and little; and “Bringing Up Father.” Frankly, “Dick Tracy” makes me mad because he always manages to live through everything. Don’t you feel that way too?

Rumors to the contrary, I’m educated: I’ve heard the news that I never got through grammar school, but the awful truth is that I’ve had eons of schooling. Five years at the Highland Manor School for Girls in Tarrytown outside of New York, graduation from the Julia Richman High School in New York and even one semester at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. So there!

And further rumors to the contrary, I’ve struggled to be an actress for years: I’m not really a model who was astonished at being plunged into movie acting. Actually, from the time I was fifteen years old I had a “Ten Year Acting Plan”; I thought it would take that long to become an actress of standing. So I went to the Academy, and then I spent three years knocking around on Broadway being in two flop shows. I took up modeling on the side because I needed money . . . and somehow I was lucky enough to get where I wanted in five years instead of ten.

 

I’m looking at this when I look in my mirror: A blonde girl with green eyes, who stands five feet six and three-fourths in her stockings and who weighs 123 ½ pounds. Want to know how to know her on the Street? Look for a shoulder-bag dangling from a blonde—I don’t even own any other type of purse!

I’m a believer in big families: Speaking as an only child, I’m agin lone offspring. I want at least two children and probably three. And in twenty years, when I’m forty, I’d just like to have a home with those children in it. I don’t want to stick around playing old-age parts in the movies.

I’m a good cook: That is, if you’re mad for coffee, bacon or eggs. Also, I can open cans beautifully and add water. Otherwise I’m helpless; Mother always did the cooking for me. But I seriously want to learn how. If I were on a desert island—well, you know, you have to be prepared for an emergency!

I’m a great girl for comfort: So my ideal home is going to be devoted to just that. It’ll be away from things—not on top of a road or other houses. A tennis court and pool aren’t necessary factors—what I’m really after is a house where my feet can go on tables, and my feet can go on chairs; and where my blond cocker Droopy’s feet will feel welcome too! You’d understand better what I mean if you saw me around the house—always in slacks or a robe, and gigantic white fur slippers.

I’m not famished: I don’t gnaw on things all day long the way so many people do. I love to eat at meal-times, of course. But just simple foods—no liquor flavor in them; I loathe brandy this or rum that. I’ll admit I drink coffee endlessly; and once in a while I have a bedtime snack of milk and crackers and cheese.

I wear all my jewelry every day: Since I only have four pieces; plain gold earrings, bracelet, watch and ring. I feel faint with horror over lots of stones in jewelry; or over diamonds; or over varying shades of gold. I just like gold jewelry, gold-colored, and I like that to excess!

I’m a collector of nothing at all: Unless you count interesting and unpretentious friends as collector’s items. I constantly listen to good music over the radio; I smoke like a stack; I don’t drink at all; I loathe the four-room Beverly Hills apartment I’ve lived in for two years with my mother; I sleep in the raw or in short pajama-tops type of nightgowns; I chew gum when I can get it; and I thoroughly appreciate the fame that Hollywood has brought me. But mainly, I’m still as relaxed as a rag doll—and I hope I always will be. You know what? I’ll bet I’ll be just that!

THE END

 

It is a quote. PHOTOPLAY MAGAZINE JUNE 1945