Best Elaine Stritch Quotes & Sayings

Two drinks a day. Two drinks a day. TWO DRINKS A DAY! It doesn't work! Not when you want eleven, and not when you start shopping for wine glasses in the vase department at Bloomingdales. — Elaine Stritch

These performers that go on about their technique and craft - oh, puleeze! How boring! I don't know what 'technique' means. But I do know what experience is. — Elaine Stritch

For my money, insecurity, depression, etc, can be healed by way of El Morocco, sad songs at 4am, and the pop of a champagne cork — Elaine Stritch

What I want to understand is what I am talking about on the stage. What I don't want to understand is what the government is talking about when the government tells me about taxes. — Elaine Stritch

I love audiences. My God, the best friends in the world! — Elaine Stritch

It's very disconcerting to start out and to say, "I'm going to tell the truth," and then to realize it's that much trouble. — Elaine Stritch

My idea of serenity - that wonderful word that everybody's trying to get into their life - is call-waiting. — Elaine Stritch

When I want to do something badly enough, I do it, but there is a practical side of me that thinks I should be paid fairly. — Elaine Stritch

My movie career - if such a thing even exists - is laughable. — Elaine Stritch

I can't explain chemistry. I really can't. I haven't got a clue what it's all about. It just happens. It's like falling in love. You can't explain why you fall in love or explain why it's this particular person. — Elaine Stritch

I'm a good acting partner for me ... when I don't have anyone else, I do really well! — Elaine Stritch

The people in New York - their humor is on a level that goes, uh, very deep, you know? — Elaine Stritch

I love holidays in New York. I love 'em. I want to celebrate something all the time, and New York has holidays for every day of the week, practically. I like holidays in New York City. — Elaine Stritch

There will always be ladies who lunch. Always. And apparently they live a long time. — Elaine Stritch

As a diabetic, I'm a walking picnic. I have to eat measured amounts of food at certain times. — Elaine Stritch

I don't wear a wig. I'd feel terrible onstage with a wig. I hate to be so 'Actors Studio'-ish, but I like to feel it's me out there. — Elaine Stritch

Woody Allen is a better actor than anybody from the Actors Studio, and he can be anybody he says he is. — Elaine Stritch

I tell the truth, and it has gotten me into a lot of trouble. My dad used to say to me, 'If you tell the truth all day long, you will end up in jail.' — Elaine Stritch

Audiences are not strangers to me. They're the best friends I've got in my life. — Elaine Stritch

Bette Davis taught Hollywood to follow an actress instead of the actress following the camera, and she's probably the best movie actress there's ever been. — Elaine Stritch

Well if I had my choice I would not - I wouldn't mind working with Alec Baldwin, but the mother role - I'm kidding. It's terrific. I'll tell you what happened with Alec Baldwin and myself. This is a couple acting together just this side of heaven. He's one of the best actors I've ever worked with in whole life. And I - I'm not overdoing it. I just think he's about the best around today. So I got lucky. — Elaine Stritch

You have to be very, very good looking to get ahead in motion pictures. — Elaine Stritch

There's something that really frightens me - and that's fear. — Elaine Stritch

I never found anyone who could look after me as well as I could look after myself. — Elaine Stritch

I could have made a lot of money doing 'Golden Girls,' and I would have been good. But the image of it! And for me to work with Betty White every day would be like taking cyanide. — Elaine Stritch

Talent is very dangerous. It alienates people. — Elaine Stritch

I like to keep active. I've got too much energy not to. — Elaine Stritch

I like being talked about. I think some people really don't ... because they're secure enough and they don't need that. — Elaine Stritch

Making clever speeches takes a lot of work and a lot of time. — Elaine Stritch

I don't think there's any thrill in the world like doing work you're good at. — Elaine Stritch

Getting to perform at the Carlyle, following in the footsteps of women like Elaine Stritch, Barbara Cook, Christine Ebersole, Kelli O'Hara, and so many others, is nothing short of a dream come true. — Laura Osnes

If somebody doesn't have any talent, get off the stage! you're wasting my time. — Elaine Stritch

When you're dealing with your life, my God, you gotta tell the truth. — Elaine Stritch

There's nothing attractive about doing a documentary. Nothing. It's hard, hard work, and I find having all the attention of the day on me a very unattractive proposition. — Elaine Stritch

I don't have to go to a doctor and have my face changed. It terrifies me that women do that. — Elaine Stritch

Certain type of actresses get younger instead of older. I always say, 'Only ingenues age.' — Elaine Stritch

I have not had any of that surgical stuff. I am too curious to find out exactly how I progress every day of my life naturally. That is what fascinates me. — Elaine Stritch

I wouldn't have a nose job. I like my nose fine. — Elaine Stritch