My mother and my father were illiterate immigrants from Russia. When I was a child they were constantly amazed that I could go to a building and take a book on any subject. They couldn't believe this access to knowledge we have here in America. They couldn't believe that it was free.

With John Wayne, we argued all the time and we made four pictures.

When you become a star, you don't change - everyone else does.

You'll never see Spartacus in a (expletive) chair!

I know Italians and I like them. A lot of my father's best friends were Italians.

My children didn't have my advantages; I was born into abject poverty.

I'm glad they gave women the right to vote, but sometimes I'm sorry they have the right to smoke. Most women are messy about it, particularly about their lipstick. I don't mind wiping lipstick off myself, but I hate seeing it on cigarettes, napkins and coffee cups! I don't like women with all their beauty machinery showing-curlers, cold cream, mascara brushes. I'd even prefer to not see a woman touch up her lipstick, but I guess that's expecting too much.