{"id":3420,"date":"2005-08-01T20:23:32","date_gmt":"2005-08-02T00:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=3420"},"modified":"2022-10-09T19:03:50","modified_gmt":"2022-10-09T23:03:50","slug":"rosalind-russell-appreciation-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=3420","title":{"rendered":"Rosalind Russell appreciation day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yup. Get ready for 5,000 excerpts. While in Cape Cod, I found a second-hand (or, more likely, a 5th hand copy) of her autobiography Life Is a Banquet<\/a>\"\"<\/i>. I read it in its entirety during my bus ride home. At one point, I found myself weeping like an idiot. She’s marvelous. I mean, I love her anyway – but reading this book was like hanging out with her, getting to know her … Hearing her stories, the anecdotes – her own struggles as an actress… It’s just so moving.<\/p>\n

She wasn’t a glamour girl. She was a leading lady. A take no prisoners leading lady. She’s an inspiration to any actress who might not have the bombshell looks but who has a GIFT for this thing called acting.<\/p>\n

God bless Rosalind Russell. It’s a great book. I came away from it feeling like: “damn, she was such a nice<\/i> person.” Such a funny and nice and warm and fearless person.<\/p>\n

Like I said: she’s one of my idols. If I could achieve 1\/15 of what she achieved, I could be happy.<\/p>\n

She was a true trailblazer – without making a big deal about it. It just happened that way. She couldn’t be anyone but herself (and, obviously, the studios tried to change her – unimaginative people are always trying to change those who are truly original) – and she got a couple lucky breaks (which she fought like tooth and nail for) – and voila. We have this image of strong funny womanhood to guide us … Actresses who are not beautiful have someone to show us the way. Just be yourself. Don’t try to fit into the mold they give you because IT WILL NEVER WORK. Maybe it worked for Jean Harlow, but you know why it did??? Because she was Jean feckin’ Harlow and it WORKED – for HER. If you’re Rosalind Russell, you must find your own way. She did … and because she did … so can the rest of us. <\/p>\n

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