Doris Day was known for being fiercely protective of her privacy. She rarely gave interviews and was rarely seen in public. But for her 90th birthday in 2011, she made an exception! She gave interviews to People Magazine and Closer and greeted fans on her balcony.
Quotes from the interviews:
On her life:
‘It was a great trip. I’ve had an amazing life and wonderful times. And I’m happy!’
‘All I ever wanted in my life was to get married, have kids, keep house and cook, and even though I did all these things, I still ended up in Hollywood.’
On her work:
‘Would you believe I’m still offered scripts and projects all the time? Every once in a while I think about working again, but they don’t make the kind of movies I made anymore! It’s a different world.’
‘My days are busy responding to the huge volume of mail I receive. I’m still floored by all the beautiful, heartwarming letters from people all over the world, telling me that my work somehow touched their lives.’
About her status as a ‘national treasure’:
‘It’s a funny feeling because it’s not expected. I’m not trying for that but when things like that happen, it’s such a surprise. It’s delightful. So delightful it makes me cry. And it makes me smile. It really makes me feel good.’
On her animal charity work:
‘Helping animals has been a lifelong passion. They give us unconditional love and ask very little in return.’
About her birthday:
‘My 90th couldn’t have been better. I was flattered by the outpouring of love and especially by how many people generously donated to the animals at DDAF.org.’
About her health:
‘Oh, I have my little aches and pains now and then, like everyone. I love to be outside, walking along the beach or working in my garden.’
Read more about Doris Day’s life.
