What bothered me was playing one-dimensional parts in films which were really about, 'Boy Meets Girl,' 'Will Boy Get Girl?'
Playing good girls in the '30s was difficult, when the fad was to play bad girls. Actually I think playing bad girls is a bore; I have always had more luck with good girl roles because they require more from an actress.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the challenge of portraying good characters in a time when bad characters were more popular, emphasizing the depth required for good roles.
Olivia De Havilland discusses the challenges she faced as an actress in the 1930s, a period when the trend favored the portrayal of bad girls over good ones. She highlights her preference for playing good girls, arguing that these roles are more complex and demand greater skill from the actress, thus showcasing her belief in the value of artistry over mere trends.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the evolution of female roles in cinema, one might quote Olivia De Havilland to emphasize the importance of strong character portrayal.
More from Olivia De Havilland
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Of course I want my films to look really good, but every single element is chosen for a reason. It's telling something in the story.
When I started learning the cello, I fell in love with the instrument because it seemed like a voice - my voice.
Even though fixed in time, a photograph evokes as much feeling as that which comes from music or dance. Whatever the mode - from the snapshot to the decisive moment to multi-media montage - the intent and purpose of photography is to render in visual terms feelings and experiences that often elude the ability of words to describe. In any case, the eyes have it, and the imagination will always soar farther than was expected.
I have designed my style pantomimes as white ink drawings on black backgrounds, so that man's destiny appears as a thread lost in an endless labyrinth. I have tried to shed some gleams of light on the shadow of man startled by his anguish.
The reviewer always has hold of the wrong horror.
A writer's work is the product of laziness.