For my peculiar face, I look best when I look as though I'm not wearing make-up.
Lauren BacallRead
I used to tremble from nerves so badly that the only way I could hold my head steady was to lower my chin practically to my chest and look up at Bogie. That was the beginning of The Look.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the author's nervousness and the creation of an iconic look in acting.
In this quote, Lauren Bacall expresses the intense nerves she experienced as a young actress, so profound that she needed to lower her chin to maintain a steady gaze at her co-star, Humphrey Bogart (Bogie). This physical response eventually led to the development of her signature look, known as 'The Look', which became a defining characteristic of her persona in film and is emblematic of her mastery as an actress.
Themes
NervesActingConfidencePersonaPerformance
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about overcoming stage fright, you might use this quote to illustrate the struggles of performers.
More from Lauren Bacall
All quotes →I think your whole life shows in your face and you should be proud of that.
Lauren BacallRead
I was this kid, and I was scared to death of all these pros around me... My head would shake, and my hands would shake, and I discovered if I kept my head down and looked up, my head would not shake, so I started to do that when I could, when it was appropriate in a scene.
Lauren BacallRead
When everything happens to you when you're so young, you're very lucky, but by the same token, you're never going to have that same feeling again. The first time anything happens to you - your first love, your first success - the second one is never the same.
Lauren BacallRead
I wasn't brought up as a society girl to go to balls and be a debutante and marry the social set and money and go to parties. No one in my family lived like that. And I never wanted to live like that. I was brought up to believe in work. I always wanted a career. Always.
Lauren BacallRead
Well, the people I've known I must say are extraordinary. When I think about some of them, I can't believe that I knew them all. And I think the reason I knew most of them at the beginning was because they were of Bogie's generation, 25 years my senior, not mine. But they were the most talented people of all.
Lauren BacallRead
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