Reminiscences of Teresa Wright

New York, June 1959

On Hollywood

Q: How do you find Hollywood, as a place to live and have children, and so on? How did you like it socially?

Certainly "life in Hollywood," as such, is such a myth. I happened to live in Santa Monica, which to me is almost as far removed from Hollywood per se as New York is. My life in Santa Monica, as removed from my work, has very little connection. Socially it has a little bit, but not much. I don't happen to be of a party-giving set or go to those things that you read about very much, Once in a while I find myself at some big do, but it has no more effect on my life than if I live in New York and have to go to a big opening, or go to a Tony Award dinner, or find myself appearing professionally or being at a big party somewhere where there's lots of other actors.

Most of my friends are in the industry. I have some who aren't. They're in various phases, mostly writers. But I find that they separate their work from their home life, as much as anybody in any other field or city does. It's true -- in your work you are naturally subject to the ideas, conceptions and ethics of the film industry. But deeply, personally, I don't feel that it does touch you to any extent, unless you are that caught up with your work or your social life.

© 1959 Columbia University and the Oral History Research Office

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