Quotes by Beth Henley

About Beth Henley:

Elizabeth Becker "Beth" Henley is an American dramatist and actress. She writes primarily about women's issues and family in the Southern United States. She is also a screenwriter who has written many film adaptations of her plays. She is known for her intertwining comic and serious moments in her pieces.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The next thing I wrote was in a writing class at night school. It was about a poor woman who worked at a dime store and who was all alone for Christmas in Laurel, Mississippi.

Beth Henley

The most glorious thing about working in the collaborative art is when you have somebody like Susan Kingsley or Kathy Bates who are better than your play.

Beth Henley

The impetus behind going to graduate school was a year after graduating from college spent in Dallas working at the dog food factory and Bank America and not having met success in my chosen field, which at that point was being an actress.

Beth Henley

Some really good things kind of swing both ways and I like to see people that can swing really, really, really sad and horrible and terrible and really, really, really beautiful and funny.

Beth Henley

I love writing for the screen.

Beth Henley

Part of that is that New York has proved to be too much fun for me to live and work; I love New York so much.

Beth Henley

But here's the thing: what you do as a screenwriter is you sell your copyright. As a novelist, as a poet, as a playwright, you maintain your copyright.

Beth Henley

I did write a couple of original screenplays, but I'd rather write plays.

Beth Henley

I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, really in suburbia, so my mother was in community theatre plays.

Beth Henley

I just loved being divorced from my own wretchedness.

Beth Henley

I was just restless with being in school; so I went out to Los Angeles.

Beth Henley

I'm very into the first production of the show.

Beth Henley

In movement class, you had to lie on the floor and get your alignment in to pass the class.

Beth Henley

It was kind of enlightening to become a playwright.

Beth Henley

It's called Sisters of the Winter Madrigal. It was interesting for me to see it done after so many years; because I wrote it and I didn't realize what a rage I was in.

Beth Henley

It's really interesting that whenever you do something that is so out of character, like having an emotional outburst, that you don't get in trouble.

Beth Henley

My fault now is making my plays too short.

Beth Henley

My first few plays took place in the South and even The Lucky Spot was in the thirties but in Louisiana.

Beth Henley

Somehow I got to be one of five or six actors that the directors would use as guinea pigs at this directing colloquium, where people pay to listen to and watch the directors direct.

Beth Henley

That was always my inclination, to start on a new play before the other one gets done, because at least you'll have something to go back to if that play gets trashed.

Beth Henley

Author Bio

  • NameBeth Henley
  • DescriptionAmerican writer and actor
  • BornMay 8, 1952
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionActor; Author; Playwright
  • AwardsPulitzer Prize For Drama