INTERVIEW FORMULA NO. 4

But Lee Remick was unhappy with the comparison and hired a press agent to play down stories about her sex appeal. She was not just a body with a pretty face, she was a serious actress. “Anyone who’d want to build me up as a sex siren would have to be crazy,” she said.

Trying to make a good impression while interviewing Lee, Joe Hyams from the New York Herald Tribune mentioned the Bardot publicity move and instantly regretted it. He said, "The minute the words were out of my mouth I knew I'd made a mistake. Miss Remick's eyes began to flash. 'I'm an actress and a woman and you can't classify me with your interview formula No. 4, nor can you dispose of me by comparing me with Brigitte Bardot, or Grace Kelly.'"

"Obviously this girl had been hurt on interviews in the past, so I retreated to the warmth of the crepe suzettes. But Miss Remick was persistent. 'I have a problem that perhaps you can help with,' she said. 'My problem is I've always been too happy. I have a lovely baby, a wonderful husband, my friends all like me and I don't have any neuroses,' she said fervently. 'I'm not an odd ball. Every part I play is different because I don't bring the trademark neurosis to it.'"

"Miss Remick eyed me coolly. 'Tell me, Mr. Hyams.' she said, 'why is it most actresses must be bizarre, vulgar or temperamental to make good copy? Everyone in Hollywood tells me I have to develop an interview personality if I want to keep the press happy. They want me to be something I'm not.'"

"'What are you?' I asked trying for an opening."

"'You're not taking notes,' accused Miss Remick. 'As I said before I'm an actress and a woman and I hope, a lady. But I found being a lady is a hardship here. It's not encouraged. What I should be is a glib person, quick on repartee, and full of colorful quotes I gleamed from the 'Reader's Digest' just before the interview!'"

"'All I need are one or two good quotes, either controversial or funny, and I've got a column,' I said."

"'No,' said Miss Remick firmly. 'I can't think of one!' Then she brightened, ’I have it,’ she said, ‘you can compare me with Greta Garbo. I have big feet too.’”

"Miss Remick won’t like this and I didn’t mention it to her, but Bardot also has big feet."

Source: 3/16/1959 - New York Herald Tribune - Joe Hyams, "Lee Remick Boasts Garbo Feet"

-- by Allison