- [on being Oscar nominated for her role in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)] "I don't think I have much of a chance and I didn't think much of myself in it."
- I usually find that actors are rather interested people. It's part of our profession. It all starts with curiosity about other human beings. The best actors have that kind of interest in people and in life.
- [speaking in 2005] "I think I've had good luck in the quality and talent of the people I've worked with. Getting on well with other actors has also been important. In my experience, really good actors are often really good eggs, and Marlon Brando and Liz Taylor are no exception."
- [speaking in 2005] "I'm an infinitely better actress now than I was 30 years ago because I've had experiences and I've learned. I do look back on some roles and think I was dreadful, but I'm not going to tell you which performances I'm talking about."
- [on Tom Jones (1963)] "I'd actually turned it down three times because I really wanted to do some theatre. I had made up my mind to say no once and for all at a lunch I cooked for Tony Richardson, after three or four wooing lunches from him and Vanessa Redgrave. I did all the classic things - salt instead of sugar, burnt the meringues - and, in the midst of all my apologies, I accepted".
- [on being labeled a 'film star'] "I hated that appellation, I was an actor. I did not want to have an image, be seen as the blue-eyed, golden-haired ingénue. Being a 'star' seemed to lock you into an image and I was always frightened of that because I knew I would disappoint people. I knew I wouldn't be like that and I didn't want them to get the wrong end of the stick so early on."
- "The Superman films were just a lot of fun. One didn't take them very seriously. The draw as far as I was concerned was Marlon Brando, and the people were all very enjoyable to work with. There's not a lot I can say about what went into the performance. I suppose it's good to be seen in a film that is going to be very popular and it's quite flattering to be chosen to play the mother of Superman! The special effects were fabulous and you were very aware of all that going on - tramping over polystyrene and so on".
- [on Warren Beatty] Warren is a teddy bear, though I used to become annoyed when the teddy bear hugs turned to bottom pinches.
- My career is incredibly important to me and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful life but, no matter how important my work is to me, my family always comes first... I really am still having a truly amazing life. I touch wood all the time.
- [on punching John Huston on the set of Freud (1962)] I beat up John Huston and he's a very big guy. He made a hideous joke about Monty and I just saw red and laid into him. Monty was worried about his eyesight and Huston said he'd get him a guide dog for Christmas. I hit Huston with tremendous force and he staggered back against the wall. I'm very, very strong.
- [on Montgomery Clift] He was absolutely a loner. He was completely an individual, very selfish as most artists are. But with an enormous regard for truth and for putting the best of himself into what he was doing - his work.
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