Pretty as a City

My problem is that I drive myself, but I do want to be wonderful, you know? I know some people may laugh about that, but it’s true. Once in New York my lawyer was telling me about my tax deductions and stuff and having the patience of an angel with me. I said to him, “I don’t want to know about all this. I only want to be wonderful.” But if you say that sort of thing to a lawyer, he thinks you’re crazy. -Marilyn in an interview with Georges Belmont, editor of the French magazine Marie Claire, 1960 Fame has a special burden, which I might as well state here and now. I don’t mind being burdened with being glamorous and sexual. I feel that beauty and femininity are ageless and can’t be contrived, and glamour cannot be manufactured. Not real glamour, it’s based on femininity. I think that sexuality is only attractive when it’s natural and spontaneous. This is where a lot of them miss the boat. We are all born sexual creatures, thank God, but it’s a pity so many people despise and crush this natural gift. Art, real art, comes from it- everything. —- You know, when they talk about nervousness- my teacher, Lee Strasberg- when I said to him, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I’m a little nervous,” he said, “When you’re not, give up, because nervousness indicates sensitivity.“ Also, a struggle with shyness is in every actor more than anyone can imagine. There is a censor inside us that says to what degree do we let go, like a child playing. I guess people think we just go out there, and you know, that’s all we do- just do it. But it’s a real struggle. I’m one of the world’s most self-conscious people. I really have to struggle. —- But when you’re famous you kind of run into human nature in a raw kind of way. It stirs up envy, fame does. People you run into feel that, well, who is she- who does she think she is, Marilyn Monroe? They feel fame gives them some kind of privilege to walk up to you and say anything to you, you know, of any kind of nature- and it won’t hurt your feelings- like it’s happening to your clothing. One time, here I am looking for a home to buy, and I stopped at this place. A man came out and was very pleasant, very cheerful, and said, “Oh, just a moment, I want my wife to meet you.” Well, she came out and said, “Will you please get off the premises?” You’re always running into people’s unconscious. Let’s take some actors- or directors. Usually they don’t say it to me, they say it to the newspapers because that’s a bigger play. You know, if they’re only insulting me to my face, that doesn’t make a big enough play because all I have to do is say, “See you around, like never.” But if it’s newspapers, it’s coast to coast and on around the world. I don’t understand why people aren’t a little more generous with each other. I don’t like to say this, but I’m afraid there is a lot of envy in this business. The only think I can do is I stop and think, “I’m all right but I’m not so sure about them!” -Marilyn in an interview with Richard Meryman for Life magazine, 1962.

Antoni Gaudi, the architect of famous Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona, decided to start with the most useless part of the building. He specifically made sure that the nave – the consecrated part of the church necessary for services – was not started in his lifetime.