1. Quotes
  2. Authors
  3. Irene Dunne

Irene Dunne Quotes

Irene Dunne was an American actress who appeared in films during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She is best known for her comedic roles, though she performed in films of other genres.

After her father died when she was 14, Dunne's family relocated from Kentucky to Indiana. She became determined to become an opera singer, but when she was rejected by The Met, she performed in musicals on Broadway until she was scouted by RKO and made her Hollywood film debut in the musical Leathernecking . She later starred in the successful musical Show Boat . Overall, she starred in 42 movies and was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Actress—for her performances in the western drama Cimarron , the screwball comedies Theodora Goes Wild and The Awful Truth , the romance Love Affair , and the drama I Remember Mama . Dunne is considered one of the finest actresses never to have won an Academy Award. Some critics feel that her performances have been underappreciated and largely forgotten, often overshadowed by later remakes and better-known co-stars.

After the success of The Awful Truth, she was paired with Cary Grant, her co-star in that movie, two further times; in another screwball comedy, My Favorite Wife , and in the melodrama Penny Serenade . She has been praised by many during her career, and after her death, as one of the best comedic actresses in the screwball genre. The popularity of Love Affair also led to two additional movies with her co-star of that film, Charles Boyer; those were When Tomorrow Comes and Together Again . Her last film role was in 1952 but she starred in and hosted numerous television anthology episodes until 1962 after having done numerous radio performances from the late 1930s until the early 1950s. She was nicknamed "The First Lady of Hollywood" for her regal manner despite being proud of her Irish-American, country-girl roots.

Dunne devoted her retirement to philanthropy and was chosen by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as a delegate for the United States to the United Nations, in which she advocated world peace and highlighted refugee-relief programs. She also used the time to be with her family—her husband, dentist Dr. Francis Griffin, and their daughter Mary Frances, whom they adopted in 1938. She received numerous awards for her philanthropy, including honorary doctorates, a Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame, and a papal knighthood—Dame of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. In 1985, she was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor for her services to the arts. Wikipedia  

✵ 20. December 1898 – 4. September 1990
Irene Dunne photo
Irene Dunne: 50 quotes3 likes

Famous Irene Dunne Quotes

“That's why there are so few women stars today. Pornography has taken away the mystery.”

Irene Dunne

A Visit With Irene Dunne (1977)

“Parading about in the latest gowns and making dull platitudes for an entire evening doesn't constitute social success in my book.”

Irene Dunne

How To Get Along In Hollywood (1948)

“Surely it isn't entirely normal to see fingers pointing at you as a rare species, the only one in captivity!”

Irene Dunne

How Do I Stay Normal in Hollywood (1942)

“How do I remain what is called "normal"? Because for me it's the natural thing to do, and therefore easier than doing something else.”

Irene Dunne

How Do I Stay Normal in Hollywood (1942)

“Father drove fifty miles each evening behind his spanking team of horses to keep his date with the Southern girl - carefully chaperoned by FOUR maiden aunts.”

Irene Dunne

Hats, Hunches And Happiness (1945)

“One of the choicest occupations here is ripping reputations into pieces.”

Irene Dunne

How To Get Along In Hollywood (1948)

Irene Dunne Quotes about life

“People have also said that I can't be used as a fair example of Hollywood living since I keep my private life so completely separate from my career.”

Irene Dunne

How To Get Along In Hollywood (1948)

“There are worse things in life than being called a lady.”

Irene Dunne

A Visit With Irene Dunne (1977)

“You'll be much better equipped for a long life in pictures if you have a sound theatrical background.”

Irene Dunne

If You Want Success (Screenland Interview) (1961)

“Strange as it may seem to those who have read much of the screwball side of Hollywood life, I have never had to fight against an impulse to jump into a swimming-pool while dressed for the opera.”

Irene Dunne

How Do I Stay Normal in Hollywood (1942)

“My private life is quiet.”

Irene Dunne

Irene Dunne, press http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/

“I'll never have to write my memoirs now after reading this. She had six husbands, at least six lovers - why, my life is so dull compared to hers! I've had one husband, one daughter, one house and no lovers.”

Irene Dunne

Everyone Loved Irene, by William Frye http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/vanity-fair-march-2004/ Vanity Fair, 2004]

Irene Dunne: Trending quotes

“When I found myself riding in a lift with the great showman, I was too much too frightened even to look at him, much less get off at the same floor.”

Irene Dunne

Hats, Hunches And Happiness (1945)

“Tackling one thing at a time, I have managed better than I would have thought possible.”

Irene Dunne

To Make You Hapier, by Roberta Orminston http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/photoplay-april-1944/ Photoplay (April 1944).

“They aren't interested in the fact that whenever they kick up dirt, the dirt rubs off on every one of us.”

Irene Dunne

How To Get Along In Hollywood (1948)

Irene Dunne Quotes

“Hollywood is fond of gushing chit-chat as any other town.”

Irene Dunne

How To Get Along In Hollywood (1948)

“Usually marriages break up because people won't take the trouble to get through the middle breakfasts. It's no trick to get through the first breakfasts, when love is new and there are bows on the eggs. And once the middle breakfasts are over the last breakfasts, when plenty of allowances have been made on both sides and an understanding friendship and deep love have been established, are a joy forever.”

Irene Dunne

To Make You Hapier, by Roberta Orminston http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/photoplay-april-1944/ Photoplay (April 1944).

“Now don't you dare call me normal. I was never a Pollyanna. There was always a lot of Theodora in me.”

Irene Dunne

A Visit With Irene Dunne (1977)

“If I began today, I would certainly remember that by becoming a movie actress one automatically becomes vulnerable in the matter of gossip.”

Irene Dunne

If You Want Success (Screenland Interview) (1961)

“Extremism of the right or the left is dangerous.”

Irene Dunne

A Visit With Irene Dunne (1977)

“I don't give my phone number to strangers. It's Plaza 5048.”

Irene Dunne

to her future husband when he asked for her phone number after their first dance.[citation needed]

“I couldn't advise others to try such a long distance marriage, but for us it works perfectly. We are three thousand miles apart, it is true, but the big thing is that we each have our careers without interference from the other. My husband can't leave his practice and I can't leave Hollywood, but neither of us has any thought of giving up either the career or each other. Some day we shall again live in our 'honeymoon' apartment - but in the meantime, for us, this is the best possible way.”

Irene Dunne

The Girl Nobody Knows; New Movie Magazine, Reginald Taviner (October 1932) http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/new-movie-magazine-october-1932/.

“There seems to be a general impression that to be known as normal in Hollywood is akin to being labeled as rare animal in a zoo.”

Irene Dunne

How Do I Stay Normal in Hollywood (1942)

“In addition to actual dramatic training and experience, I'd want as much education as possible.”

Irene Dunne

If You Want Success (Screenland Interview) (1961)

“Mother, an accomplished musician, taught me to play the piano as a very small girl.”

Irene Dunne

Hats, Hunches And Happiness (1945)

“The glamour of Hollywood has never worn thin for me.”

Irene Dunne

Hats, Hunches And Happiness (1945)

“Languages, literature, art, music, history: are all self-evident helps - and even mathematics and sciences, by training memory and demanding the analytical approach, are helpful by indirection.”

Irene Dunne

If You Want Success (Screenland Interview) (1961)

“It doesn't hurt any of us to remember that Hollywood isn't at all impressed by anyone who has the fantastic illusion that the town must revolve around him.”

Irene Dunne

How To Get Along In Hollywood (1948)

“I had great cameramen like Rudolph Mate and Hal Mohr. They'd take an hour to light the proper closeup of me.”

Irene Dunne

A Visit With Irene Dunne (1977)

“If I arrived in Hollywood today, I would keep reminding myself not to try to make a big impression.”

Irene Dunne

If You Want Success (Screenland Interview) (1961)

“You have no idea how it feels to know that you've cut someone to the quick. I'll never do it again, never, never.”

Irene Dunne

Preofections - Irene Dunne, by Elizabth Wilson; Silver Screen (November 1936) http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/silver-screen-november-1936/.

“No education is ever wasted and everything you learn is helpful in acting.”

Irene Dunne

If You Want Success (Screenland Interview) (1961)

“That's the kind of stuff you are offered today. Scripts that have you mixed up with young men. I find them utterly revolting. Of course WE never had to do nude scenes. I'm glad, too, because I'm susceptible to pneumonia.”

Irene Dunne

citation needed

“It's not possible to forget pictures. Anyone who works in them thinks of them constantly.”

Irene Dunne

How To Get Along In Hollywood (1948)

“Like many New Englanders - he was a neighbor of Calvin Coolidge's in Northampton - he finds life a serious business. But he's never - well - heavy about it.”

Irene Dunne

about her husband, Dr. Francis Griffin Revealing The Life Of Irene Dunne, by Adele Whitely Fletcher; The Modern Screen (September 1933) http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/modern-screen-september-1933/.

“Ever since my United Nations work, for instance, they've been saying that I've gone into politics. The United Nations is a nonpolitical body.”

Irene Dunne

McCall's, August 1962 http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/mccall-s-august-1964/

“Ever since the first day I arrived in this town, the general impression has been that I'm like a queen holding court on chosen days.”

Irene Dunne

How To Get Along In Hollywood (1948)

“Fans hate a hypocrite. I believe they detect the real you behind every role and if they are led to believe you are something you pretend you aren't, they resent it.”

Irene Dunne

This is Really Irene Dunne, by Sara Hamilton http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/photoplay-april-1936/; Photoplay (April 1936).

“Nothing can replace the excitement, the magic and yes the glamour of a Ziegfeld show. To see the great showman sitting in the second row busily writing his telegrams is a thrill no actress can forget.”

Irene Dunne

Hats, Hunches And Happiness (1945)

“This is an amazing business, creative and mechanical at the same time.”

Irene Dunne

If You Want Success (Screenland Interview) (1961)

“Music was as natural as breathing in our house.”

Irene Dunne

Hats, Hunches And Happiness (1945)

“Any young girl aspiring to a theatrical career held Florenz Ziegfeld in a awe.”

Irene Dunne

Hats, Hunches And Happiness (1945)

“A honeymoon is wonderful, of course. It's the time two people go off alone and do their utmost to remain alone. Not only because they are so new and exciting to each other. But because it's their chance to draw closer and prepare for the intimacy of the every day married life which lies ahead of them. However, feverishly romantic though it may be, it's also apt to be something of a strain. Because the two people haven't yet learned to relax with each other. Because they haven't had time to become truly good friends. Because they don't know all the little things about each other which only the intimacy and affectionate understanding of years brings.”

Irene Dunne

[http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/modern-screen-august-1935/ The Modern screen *August 1935).

“Our home in Louisville, Kentucky, where I was born on December 20, was one of great happiness.”

Irene Dunne

Hats, Hunches And Happiness (1945)

“I always demanded respect. I came prepared and expected others to do the same.”

Irene Dunne

A Visit With Irene Dunne (1977)

“I did all my fighting before the film started. I fought for the best director, the best lighting man. I was always conscious of how I looked.”

Irene Dunne

A Visit With Irene Dunne (1977)

“You may laugh of the idea of the good will of others in Hollywood, but it's no laughing matter if you don't have it.”

Irene Dunne

How To Get Along In Hollywood (1948)

“I'm not going to worry any more. It isn't worth it. Look at 'Show Boat.' I worried myself sick over it. I knew the public wouldn't like it. But they do and it has broken all kind of records. Yes, I decided while I was in Europe this summer that I'd never worry again. I shall laugh blithely all through 'Theodora Goes Wild.' That's the picture I'm doing now for Columbia, you know. It's different from anything I've ever done before, and it's a comedy, and I'm going to laugh and be gay and never give a thought to worry.”

Irene Dunne

Preofections - Irene Dunne, by Elizabth Wilson; Silver Screen (November 1936) http://www.irenedunnesite.com/press/silver-screen-november-1936/.

“No triumph of either my stage or screen career has ever rivalled the excitement of trips down the Mississippi on the river boats with my father.”

Irene Dunne

Hats, Hunches And Happiness (1945)

“Never on any golf course have I been approached by a policeman who said, "Lady, you can't play with an ordinary golf ball. You're movie star. You'll have to use a coconut for a ball.”

Irene Dunne

How Do I Stay Normal in Hollywood (1942)

Similar authors

Meryl Streep photo
Meryl Streep12
American actress None
Sophia Loren photo
Sophia Loren32
Italian actress None
Zsa Zsa Gabor photo
Zsa Zsa Gabor4
Hungarian-American socialite and actress None
Mae West photo
Mae West24
American actress and sex symbol None
Marlene Dietrich photo
Marlene Dietrich28
German-American actress and singer None
Elizabeth Taylor photo
Elizabeth Taylor33
British-American actress None
Audrey Hepburn photo
Audrey Hepburn21
British actress None
Marilyn Monroe photo
Marilyn Monroe149
American actress, model, and singer None
Dolly Parton photo
Dolly Parton36
American singer-songwriter and actress None
Madonna photo
Madonna107
American singer, songwriter, and actress None