- [in the 1920s] Hollywood, what a place it is! It is so far away from the rest of the world, so narrow. No one thinks of anything but motion pictures or talks of anything else. And, I, too, am getting like the rest. I have not read anything for a year. I do not know what is happening in the world.
- Take care of your inner beauty, your spiritual beauty, and that will reflect in your face. We have the face we created over the years. Every bad deed, every bad fault will show on your face. God can give us beauty and genes can give us our features, but whether that beauty remains or changes is determined by our thoughts and deeds.
- When I returned to Mexico, I joined with people eager to create the Mexican cinema. We were full of dreams and had no money whatsoever, but we were able to achieve something and open markets for our films all over the world.
- [on the transition from silent to sound films] Many big stars didn't survive. Their voices were too high, or they didn't speak English well enough. I survived, but it was difficult. I had to work very, very hard at my English.
- My first beauty rule is to relax completely for 20 minutes each day without interruption-no matter what! I lie flat on the floor and "let go", relaxing completely from the toes up. Consequently, at 5 o'clock, when everyone else is tired out I'm full of energy.
- One of the legends you hear about me is that I sleep 16 hours a day. That is ridiculous. In the first place, it's physically impossible. Secondly, someone else would have to do my work . . . on the stage, in motion pictures . . . managing my home. I sleep nine hours.
- [in 1960] The secret of youth is work, keep busy, and never be bored. Boredom is the only thing that ages you. You don't have to be young to be a star; today there's acting for all ages. Last year I tried the legitimate stage, have now done three plays. When I was a star in Hollywood, I had hundreds of offers from Broadway, but never took them seriously. Thoughts of facing an audience appalled me. Now I feel it's the ideal medium for an actress. I work in television also but don't love it; I do it as a sort of discipline.
- That story about 14 hours' sleep is an exaggeration. I do have eight hours of sleep a night, however, and short naps whenever I can manage them in the daytime.
- I've never dieted in my life. Don't believe in it. Diets ruin a woman's health and appearance. Her face suffers. She looks drawn and haggard. I eat regular meals and eat anything and everything. Moderation is the key. I may eat cake; but I eat only a small slice.
- Personally, I buy only what suits me. In the daytime I dress very simply, but after 7 p.m. I dress dramatically. I usually wear a tiny nose veil on a cocktail hat. Men love it, and it seems to suit my face and personality.
- Beauty does not come with creams and lotions and all those silly things. It comes with good digestion, moderation in eating, a discipline in life. Beauty comes from the inside out. Creams are a waste of money if you don't take care of your health.
- A woman must be soignee. To be neat in every aspect requires considerable organization. But to me, that is more important than being fashionable!
- We have a public, the power to influence, and we have an enormous responsibility to use this influence. We have awakened to this responsibility in Mexico. We even have an actress, María Elena Marqués, who is a congresswoman. She works terribly hard and is up at 6 o'clock, not to go to a studio, but to work for the people of her district.
- [on Journey Into Fear (1943)] Orson insisted I play this role. He said he was unable to see anyone else in it, and after reading the part I became equally enthusiastic. I wear no glamorous gowns in the film. My main costume is a battered raincoat.
- On my father's side I have [Spanish] Basque blood. The Asúnsolos became Mexicans three generations ago; it seems that in Basque the surname means field of nettles. On my mother's side I am a mestiza, with drops of Toltec blood. The Negretes already existed in the 15th century in the mountains of Santander [in Spain]; it seems that they were warriors. I inherited something from them. My love for art comes from the Toltecs, I suppose.
- Pedro was a wonderful, charming man who knew how to project the personality of the Mexican man everywhere. I filmed with Pedro in the best period of his life. All the films were successful. Now that he died, his figure should be highlighted, since Pedro Armendáriz was a pillar within the national cinematography.
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