I'm 5-feet-9, I have a deep voice, and I have a way with a line. What can I do about it? I can't stay home waiting for something different. I think it's a total waste of energy worrying about typecasting. Bea Arthur More Quotes by Bea Arthur More Quotes From Bea Arthur I believe that you're here on Earth for a short time, and while you're here, you shouldn't forget it. Bea Arthur earth forget believe I'm not playing a role. I'm being myself, whatever the hell that is. Bea Arthur being-myself hell roles PETA has a proven track record of success. Each victory PETA wins for the animals is a stepping stone upon which we build a more compassionate world for all beings - and we will never give up our fight until all animals are treated with respect and kindness. Bea Arthur giving-up fighting kindness Keep fighting for animals by making compassionate, cruelty-free choices every day and encouraging those around you to do the same. Bea Arthur fighting choices animal In sitcoms, the women are so beautiful, understanding and well-bred. They have humor, but sort of display it with a twinkle of the eye and not a guffaw. But there's no juice in that for me. Bea Arthur understanding eye beautiful All this time I've just wanted to be blonde, beautiful and 5 feet 2 inches tall. Bea Arthur blonde feet beautiful At least I'm not playing other people for a change. It's a very odd place to be... I feel I'm an actress who sings a bit. Bea Arthur bits actresses feels I was raised in the theater and, as it turned out, a TV show was like performing a new one-act play. So, it was really no different. Bea Arthur tv-shows different play I come from a small town in Maryland. I came to California in 1972 to begin Maude. Bea Arthur california small-town towns But that's one of the nice things about doing a stage show, if something doesn't work out, you have the luxury of working on it over time. Bea Arthur luxury work-out nice Many years ago, I was in a Broadway show and I had to wear a fox fur around my shoulders. One day my hand touched one of the fox's legs. It seemed to be in two pieces. Then it dawned on me.... her leg had probally been snapped in two by the steel trap that had caught it. Bea Arthur animal hands years I... was not too happy to suddenly take on this public role thrust upon me. They just assumed I was the Joan of Arc of the women's movement. And I wasn't at all. It put a lot of unnecessary pressure on me. Bea Arthur movement roles pressure You know, I spend most of my life turning things down. There's a lot of crap out there. Bea Arthur crap knows I can't imagine working without and audience. Bea Arthur audience imagine i-can Making lasting gifts for animals in our estate plans is perhaps the single most important thing we can do to ensure animals have the strongest possible voice for their protection. Bea Arthur voice important animal I'd never even been to Wrigley Field. I never even enjoyed baseball that much, but I loved being there, the crowd was lovely, and they all sang with me! Bea Arthur crowds lovely baseball I really cut my teeth on off-off-off Broadway shows. Bea Arthur teeth broadway cutting I wish there was something more that performers could do other than get out there and sing at benefit performances. I wish I felt that if I had an empty room I'd like to bring in someone and make it a hospice, but I'm not Mother Teresa. I can't do that. Bea Arthur empty-rooms mother wish I suddenly realized that comedy, for me, was just being honest, and playing it for real. I've seen so many wonderful actors who turn into creatures from another planet when they're told they are supposed to be playing comedy. Bea Arthur just-being actors real If you were chewing gum on the set, she would try to have you fired. she also never wanted to wear shoes. She had it written into her contract that she was allowed to not wear shoes as long as she agreed not to sue the producers if she hurt herself. Bea Arthur entertainment