No man worth his salt, no man of spirit and spine, no man for whom I could have any respect, could rejoice in the identification of Tallulah's husband. It's tough enough to be bogged down in a legend. It would be even tougher to marry one.

For acting, darlings, is the world's most perilous trade. Compared with actors, steeple jacks and deep-sea divers lead snug and placid lives.

I have three phobias which, could I mute them, would make my life as slick as a sonnet, but as dull as ditch water: I hate to go to bed, I hate to get up, and I hate to be alone.

Bette [Davis] and I are good friends. There's nothing I wouldn't say to her face - both of them.

I'll come and make love to you at five o'clock. If I'm late, start without me.

Acting is a form of confession.

Whatever you have read I have said is almost certainly untrue, except if it is funny, in which case I definitely said it.