Many years ago, I was in a Broadway show and I had to wear a fox fur around my shoulders. One day my hand touched one of the fox's legs. It seemed to be in two pieces. Then it dawned on me.... her leg had probally been snapped in two by the steel trap that had caught it.

All this time I've just wanted to be blonde, beautiful and 5 feet 2 inches tall.

At least I'm not playing other people for a change. It's a very odd place to be... I feel I'm an actress who sings a bit.

I... was not too happy to suddenly take on this public role thrust upon me. They just assumed I was the Joan of Arc of the women's movement. And I wasn't at all. It put a lot of unnecessary pressure on me.

I suddenly realized that comedy, for me, was just being honest, and playing it for real. I've seen so many wonderful actors who turn into creatures from another planet when they're told they are supposed to be playing comedy.

I come from a small town in Maryland. I came to California in 1972 to begin Maude.

Keep fighting for animals by making compassionate, cruelty-free choices every day and encouraging those around you to do the same.