Ava Gardner
Birthday: 24 December 1922, Grabtown, North Carolina, USA
Birth Name: Ava Lavinia Gardner
Height: 168 cm
Ava Lavina Gardner was born on December 24, 1922 in Grabtown, North Carolina, to Mary Elizabeth (née Baker) and Jonas Bailey Gardner. Born on a tobacco farm, where she got her lifelong love of earthy ...Show More
Everybody kisses everybody else in this crummy business all the time. It's the kissiest business in Show more
Everybody kisses everybody else in this crummy business all the time. It's the kissiest business in the world. Hide
Although no one believes me, I have always been a country girl and still have a country girl's value Show more
Although no one believes me, I have always been a country girl and still have a country girl's values. Hide
Nobody ever called it an intellectual profession.
Nobody ever called it an intellectual profession.
[on why she had an abortion during her marriage to Frank Sinatra] We couldn't even take care of ours Show more
[on why she had an abortion during her marriage to Frank Sinatra] We couldn't even take care of ourselves. How were we going to take care of a baby? Hide
What I'd really like to say about stardom is that it gave me everything I never wanted.
What I'd really like to say about stardom is that it gave me everything I never wanted.
All I ever got out of any of my marriages was the two years Artie Shaw financed on an analyst's couc Show more
All I ever got out of any of my marriages was the two years Artie Shaw financed on an analyst's couch. Hide
[on her career] Christ, what did I ever do worth talking about? Every time I tried to act, they step Show more
[on her career] Christ, what did I ever do worth talking about? Every time I tried to act, they stepped on me. That's why it's such a goddamn shame, I've been a movie star for 25 years and I've got nothing, nothing, to show for it. Hide
After my screen test, the director clapped his hands gleefully and yelled, "She can't talk! She can' Show more
After my screen test, the director clapped his hands gleefully and yelled, "She can't talk! She can't act! She's sensational!" Hide
I couldn't imagine a better place [Melbourne, Australia] for making a film on the end of the world.
I couldn't imagine a better place [Melbourne, Australia] for making a film on the end of the world.
What's the point? My face, shall we say, looks lived in.
What's the point? My face, shall we say, looks lived in.
I must have seen more sunrises than any other actress in the history of Hollywood.
I must have seen more sunrises than any other actress in the history of Hollywood.
[when asked if her time at MGM had been any fun at all] Christ, after 17 years of slavery, you can a Show more
[when asked if her time at MGM had been any fun at all] Christ, after 17 years of slavery, you can ask that question? I hated it, honey. I mean, I'm not exactly stupid or without feeling, and they tried to sell me like a prize hog. Hide
God knows I've got so many frailties myself, I ought to be able to understand and forgive them in ot Show more
God knows I've got so many frailties myself, I ought to be able to understand and forgive them in others. But I don't. Hide
Deep down, I'm pretty superficial.
Deep down, I'm pretty superficial.
[on her role in The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966)] I've never thought of myself as right for thi Show more
[on her role in The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966)] I've never thought of myself as right for this type of part. But John [John Huston] said he had faith that I could do it. Now I am glad I listened to him. Sarah is a wonderful role. She is a selfless woman who gives her maid servant Hagar to her husband when she herself cannot give Abraham a son. Later she is blessed by God and gives birth to a son, at 90. This is one of the most beautiful love stories in the Bible. Hide
Maybe I just didn't have the temperament for stardom. I'll never forget seeing Bette Davis at the Hi Show more
Maybe I just didn't have the temperament for stardom. I'll never forget seeing Bette Davis at the Hilton in Madrid. I went up to her and said, "Miss Davis, I'm Ava Gardner and I'm a great fan of yours." And do you know, she behaved exactly as I wanted her to behave. "Of course you are, my dear," she said. "Of course you are." And she swept on. Now that's a star. Hide
I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. Show more
I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. Doing nothing feels like floating on warm water to me. Delightful, perfect. Hide
I have only one rule in acting -- trust the director and give him heart and soul.
I have only one rule in acting -- trust the director and give him heart and soul.
I haven't taken an overdose of sleeping pills and called my agent. I haven't been in jail, and I don Show more
I haven't taken an overdose of sleeping pills and called my agent. I haven't been in jail, and I don't go running to the psychiatrist every two minutes. That's something of an accomplishment these days. Hide
When I lose my temper, honey, you can't find it any place.
When I lose my temper, honey, you can't find it any place.
I really had very little to contribute, so I played a lot of hatcheck girls, and did mob scenes, ext Show more
I really had very little to contribute, so I played a lot of hatcheck girls, and did mob scenes, extra scenes, dancing scenes, just to have the experience of being on a set. I spent years at that. If the studio wanted a photograph to advertise a film they'd say, 'Who is it that has a good pair of legs and a good pair of breasts and is pretty and not working?' And it was always Ava because she was never working. Hide
[in 1985, on why she came out of retirement to appear on a prime-time soap opera] For the loot, hone Show more
[in 1985, on why she came out of retirement to appear on a prime-time soap opera] For the loot, honey, for the loot. Hide
I made it as a star dressed, and if it ain't dressed, I don't want it.
I made it as a star dressed, and if it ain't dressed, I don't want it.
I wish to live until 150 years old but the day I die, I wish it to be with a cigarette in one hand a Show more
I wish to live until 150 years old but the day I die, I wish it to be with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other. Hide
[on Robert Taylor] I knew him as a warm, generous, intelligent human being. Our love affair lasted t Show more
[on Robert Taylor] I knew him as a warm, generous, intelligent human being. Our love affair lasted three, maybe four months. A magical little interlude. I've never forgotten those few hidden months. I think Bob, despite all his efforts, couldn't break the mold of the beautiful lover. The film world remembers him that way, and I have to say that I do, too. Hide
[on her first screen test] There wasn't a thing that I could do. I couldn't act--I was the first to Show more
[on her first screen test] There wasn't a thing that I could do. I couldn't act--I was the first to be eliminated in high school plays. I had no training whatsoever. I was just a pretty little girl. But I loved the idea, because I loved movies. Hide
(on why she came out of retirement to appear on a soap opera) For the loot, honey, for the loot.
(on why she came out of retirement to appear on a soap opera) For the loot, honey, for the loot.
I can't bear to face a camera. But I never brought anything to this business and I have no respect f Show more
I can't bear to face a camera. But I never brought anything to this business and I have no respect for acting. Maybe if I had learned something it would be different. But I never did anything to be proud of. Hide
Ava Gardner's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (68)
Ava Gardner'S roles
Moira Davidson
Kitty Collins
