Katherine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn (1907-2003) was an American actress of film, stage, and television. Known for her headstrong independence and spirited personality, Hepburn's career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned more than 60 years. She cultivated a screen persona that matched this public image, and regularly played strong-willed, sophisticated women. Her work came in a range of genres, from screwball comedy to literary drama, and she received four Academy Awards for Best Actress—a record for any performer.
In the 1940s Hepburn was contracted to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where her career focused on an alliance with Spencer Tracy. The screen-partnership spanned 25 years, and produced nine movies.
Hepburn challenged herself in the latter half of her life, as she regularly appeared in Shakespeare stage productions and tackled a range of literary roles. She found a niche playing middle-aged spinsters, such as in The African Queen (1951), a persona the public embraced. Three more Oscars came for her work in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968), and On Golden Pond (1981).
In the 1970s she began appearing in television movies, which became the focus of her career in later life. She remained active into old age, making her final screen appearance in 1994 at the age of 87. After a period of inactivity and ill-health, Hepburn died in 2003 at 96 years old.
In 1999, she was named by the American Film Institute as the top female Hollywood legend.
“Be yourself, it's a tough act to follow.”
“Only when a woman decides not to have children, can a woman live like a man. That's what I've done.”
“I have many regrets, and I'm sure everyone does. The stupid things you do, you regret...if you have any sense....And if you don't regret them, maybe you're stupid.”
“I never realized until lately that women were supposed to be inferior.”
“i just recently realized that women are supposed to be the inferior sex”
“Only the really plain people know about love - the very fascinating ones try so hard to create an impression that they soon exhaust their talents.”
“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get — only what you are expecting to give — which is everything. What you will receive in return varies. But it really has no connection with what you give. You give because you love and cannot help giving.”
“I would have made a terrible parent. The first time my child didn't do what I wanted, I'd kill him.”
“I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun.”
“Most people our brought up to believe they are as good as the person next to them, I was told I was better.”
“If you need a helping hand, you can find one at the end of your arm.”
“Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.”
“If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior.”