Anne Bancroft

Anne Bancroft (born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano; 17 September 1931 – 6 June 2005) was an American actress and wife of Mel Brooks. Respected for her acting prowess and versatility, Bancroft received an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Cannes Film Festival Award. She is one of only 24 thespians to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting.

Quotes



 * I was at a point where I was ready to say I am what I am because of what I am and if you like me I'm grateful, and if you don't, what am I going to do about it?
 * Interview on her role in the Broadway play "Two for the Seesaw". The New York Times (1958).


 * There are always good parts. They may not pay what you want, and they may not have as many days' work as you want, they may not have the billing that you want, they may not have a lot of things, but — the content of the role itself — I find there are many roles.
 * Associated Press interview (1997).


 * If there are, let's say, 20 astronauts, there may be two women among those 20 astronauts. If there are 20 FBI guys, there's one woman and the rest are men. So when somebody writes a script about life, usually the leading role will be the man, because mostly what women do is at home taking care of the children...That's the most important job there is on Earth. And why shouldn't women have it since they are the better of the two sexes?
 * Associated Press interview (1997).


 * I don't quite jump for joy, but I am awfully glad to see him.
 * On her husband Mel Brooks Associated Press interview (1997).


 * First of all, you have to marry the right person. If you marry the wrong person for the wrong reasons, then no matter how hard you work, it's never going to work, because then you have to completely change yourself, completely change them, completely — by that time, you're both dead. So I think you have to marry for the right reasons, and marry the right person.
 * On successful marriage. Associated Press interview (1997).


 * He understands not only with his brain but with his heart. And that might be called love. Not quite sure, but maybe that's the key.
 * On her husband Mel Brooks Associated Press interview (1997).


 * I identified with both women. But Emma had a stronger message for the women I want to speak to now— women who work. I wanted to tell them that choosing to work doesn't make them oddballs and isn't antisocial.
 * On her decision to play Emma, in The Turning Point (1977). Interview People magazine, quoted in "Anne Bancroft" at Salon.com (18 September 2001).


 * I am quite surprised, that with all my work, and some of it is very, very good, that nobody talks about The Miracle Worker. We're talking about Mrs. Robinson. I understand the world... I'm just a little dismayed that people aren't beyond it yet.
 * Interview (2003).


 * To this day, when men meet me, there's always that movie in the back of their mind.
 * On The Graduate, "Anne Bancroft Finds Her Own Way Back", interview with Peter Marks in the New York Times (17 February 2002).