I've always admired gardens. My father was a great nature lover and would always take me for walks. We lived not too far away from huge rhododendron estates and azalea estates, and when they're in bloom in England, they're just riotous.
Broadway is a tough, tough arena for singing.
I thought it was all a flash in the pan. It wasn't until Broadway came along that I felt I had really made it.
Some of my own books are being developed - one as a Broadway musical.
There is one thing I should say, and it's important: Young Broadway singers and anybody who is an orator of any kind - lawyers who have to speak in court or pastors or anyone who has a lot of stress on their vocal cords: You should do the maintenance. You should do whatever it takes to feel fresh and good.
Almost every morning when I go to the studio to work, I discover a fresh rose in the bud vase on my dressing table... one living and vital thing in a dusty arena of powder and tissue and matches and greasepaint.
A lot of my life happened in great, wonderful bursts of good fortune, and then I would race to be worthy of it.
Singing has been a cherished gift, and my inability to sing has been a devastating blow.
As a rule, my focus is on classical music, but I love jazz. I love everything, actually.
I like - I actually love classical music very much.
When one door closes, another window opens.
On the whole, I think women wear too much and are to fussy. You can't see the person for all the clutter.
My mother and stepfather were in Vaudeville. And my stepfather was an alcoholic. It was a lot of roller coaster times. But it's all I knew. I think they did the best they could under the circumstances, with me and all the family.
I do get a lot of gifts. I get a lot of things to sign, too. People do collect the memorabilia. Between 'Poppins' and 'The Sound of Music,' there were beautiful plates that they made, and I've signed a lot of them.
I have always wished I could learn to be a potter. I love collecting ceramics; it would be so fulfilling to create something lovely.
A lot of films seem to go to the lowest common denominator.
My mum gave me pretty good genes in that department. She had gorgeous skin. That good English complexion. She never seemed to have a blemish that I knew of.
I am told that the first comprehensible word I uttered as a child was 'home.'
I'm just honored that some of my little contributions I've written with my daughter are doing well.
When I've least expected it, an enormous opportunity or stroke of luck has crossed right under my nose. So I tell everybody, if you're passionate about what you do and you love it, do it. But do your homework. Because you'll never know when the opportunity is going to happen.
