- Good night . . . and stay happy.
- Hollywood sold its stars on good looks and personality build-ups. We weren't really actresses in the true sense. We were just big names--the products of a good publicity department. Today's crop of actresses and actors have real talent. Good looks are no longer an essential part of the business.
- Sometimes, I'll watch an old movie on television and, once in a while, one of mine--such as April Showers (1948)--will come on and I'll watch it. And you know something? I'm always amazed at what a lousy actress I was. I guess in the old days, we just got by on glamour.
- [on her long-time friend Lucille Ball and her second series, The Ann Sothern Show (1958)] Lucy used to complain that she got all the parts I turned down. Now I produce the show, and she owns the studio. I guess that settles that.
- Listen, I never asked to be in show business. It was my mother's idea.
- People never think of me as a singer. But singers aren't always good actresses, and, thank goodness, they think of me as an actress.
- [on her co-stars in The Whales of August (1987)] Lillian [Lillian Gish] is a person first and then a movie star. Bette [Bette Davis] is a movie star.
- I only like character parts. I never wanted to be a leading woman.
- [on her Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract years] You didn't have to walk to the set. There was always a limousine. I never thought you stopped making money and grew old.
- I love Lucille (Ball), and I know she loves me. Furthermore, I'm one of the few people who call her Lucille. I understand her. A lot people think she is tough. But that's just her way. She's soft inside.
- I'll never do a television show that children can't see. It's the duty of everyone in television to keep their shows for the family audience.
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