Ethel Barrymore

Ethel Barrymore – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Ethel Barrymore (1879–1959), the “First Lady of the American Theatre,” left an indelible mark on stage, screen, and radio. Explore her biography, career highlights, legacy, and many memorable quotes, along with the life lessons we can draw from her extraordinary journey.

Introduction

Ethel Barrymore was an American stage and screen actress whose career stretched over six decades. Often called the “First Lady of the American Theatre,” she became an emblem of dramatic talent, emotional depth, and enduring grace. Her life bridges the Golden Age of Broadway to the advent of Hollywood’s studio era. Even today, Ethel Barrymore stands as a cultural icon, admired not only for her performances but for her wit, humanity, and resilience.

In this article, we explore her early years, her ascent in theatre and film, her lasting influence, and compile some of her most beloved quotations. We also reflect on the lessons her life holds for aspiring artists and admirers alike.

Early Life and Family

Ethel Barrymore was born Ethel Mae Blythe on August 15, 1879, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. second child of actors Maurice Barrymore (originally Herbert Blythe) and Georgiana Drew.

Her theatrical pedigree was substantial: her mother came from the Drew family (a long line of stage actors and managers), and her father had strong ties to the British acting tradition. John Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore, both of whom also became major figures in theatre and film.

In her early years, the family moved to England for a couple of years before returning to the U.S.

Tragedy touched her youth: her mother passed away in 1893, when Ethel was still a teenager, prompting both Ethel and Lionel to go to work on stage in order to support themselves.

Thus, from the start, Ethel’s life was deeply entwined with the theatre—not just by heritage, but by necessity and passion.

Youth and Education

Because of the demands of life after her mother’s death, Ethel’s formal schooling was cut short. Instead, the stage became her classroom.

Her first public stage appearances began as a teenager. In 1895, she made her Broadway debut in The Imprudent Young Couple, starring alongside her uncle John Drew Jr. and Maude Adams.

Her early success was not purely due to her family name, but to a natural command of stage presence, acting intelligence, and emotional sensitivity. She was not merely a star by inheritance—she earned her reputation by merit.

Career and Achievements

Stage Career

Ethel Barrymore’s name became synonymous with the American theatre. Her stage work included classic plays, modern dramas, and major hits, and her skills earned her widespread esteem in theatrical circles.

One of her recurring lines, “That's all there is; there isn't any more,” uttered at curtain calls, became a famous catchphrase, often quoted and parodied. Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, The Constant Wife, A Doll’s House (as Nora), Romeo and Juliet (as Juliet), among others, solidified her reputation as a versatile actress.

In 1928, the Ethel Barrymore Theatre was opened in New York City (by the Shuberts) and remains active to this day, carrying her name as a testament to her impact.

She was also a strong supporter of actors’ rights. During the 1919 Actors’ Equity strike, she and her brother Lionel participated in benefit performances and advocated for fairer compensation and protections for stage actors.

In 1938, she became the first artistic director of the Olney Theatre Center in Maryland, showcasing her commitment to fostering theatrical development.

Film, Radio, and Later Work

Though her base remained on the stage, Ethel successfully transitioned into film, radio, and television. She made her first film appearance in The Nightingale in 1914.

She and her brothers starred together in Rasputin and the Empress (1932), the only film to feature all three siblings.

One of her crowning achievements was winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1944 for None but the Lonely Heart. The Spiral Staircase [1946] and The Paradine Case [1947]) as well.

In radio, she participated in broadcasts as early as 1923, when an act of The Laughing Lady (in which she appeared on stage) was aired to a large audience. Ethel Barrymore Theatre, on the DuMont Network. What's My Line? and All Star Revue.

Her last film appearance was in Johnny Trouble in 1957.

Honors and Legacy

Ethel Barrymore was posthumously inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her film work, with a star on 7001 Hollywood Boulevard. American Theater Hall of Fame, along with her brothers.

In recognition of her cultural importance, a crater on Venus was named after her.

Her name lives on through the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, and in countless references and homages in theatre history.

Historical Milestones & Context

Ethel Barrymore’s life and career unfolded during a transformative era for the performing arts: from the dominance of live theatre, through the silent film era, the rise of "talkies," to early television. She navigated all these changes while maintaining her craft and dignity.

Her role in the Actors’ Equity strike of 1919 was significant. She championed better conditions and respect for actors, which helped to professionalize the stage in America.

Her career also paralleled changing roles for women in society and in the arts. As a woman commanding leading roles across four or five decades, she broke through many barriers and stereotypes.

The establishment of her namesake theatre (1928) during the height of her influence is itself a historic marker of her status within theatrical New York.

In her later years, she witnessed and adapted to radio and television—mediums that threatened to eclipse live performance, yet she remained present and respected. This adaptability under shifting cultural currents underscores her relevance beyond her era.

Legacy and Influence

Ethel Barrymore’s legacy rests on several pillars:

1. Artistic Excellence Across Mediums
   She was among the few who managed to be taken seriously both on stage and in film, radio, and television. Her presence, vocal authority, emotional nuance, and deep understanding of text made her a model of what an actor could aspire to be.

2. Inspiration to Generations
   Many actors, particularly in American theatre, have cited her as an influence for combining classical technique with authenticity. Her strong sense of professionalism and her commitment to art over mere celebrity have made her an exemplar.

3. Institutional Legacy
   The Ethel Barrymore Theatre remains an active Broadway house, a living monument to her name. Her place in theater history is assured through this physical and symbolic presence.

4. Cultural Memory & Quotations
   Her lines—both from her performances and her public remarks—continue to be quoted, anthologized, and shared by lovers of theatre, literature, and wit.

5. The Barrymore Dynasty
   As one branch of the Barrymore acting family, she contributed to the family's aura as “acting royalty.” Through her siblings and descendants, the Barrymore name remains prominent in theatrical and film lore.

Her life blends glamour and gravitas, and her reputation has endured because she built it on substance rather than show.

Personality and Talents

Ethel Barrymore was known for sharp intelligence, a sense of dignity, emotional honesty, and a quick wit. Her public persona carried warmth without sentimentality, and she commanded presence without ostentation.

She was multi-passionate: she loved baseball, for example, and frequently attended games.

Her resilience was tested by family losses, by the changing tides of show business, and by health issues later in life (including a long-standing heart condition). Despite these, she remained committed to her craft and maintained personal integrity.

She could be direct and uncompromising in her judgments—for herself and for the industry. That honesty is reflected in many of her quotes, which are sometimes humorous, sometimes stern, always pointed.

Famous Quotes of Ethel Barrymore

Below are a selection of enduring, frequently cited Ethel Barrymore quotes (attributed in credible sources):

• “When life knocks you to your knees, and it will, why, get up! If it knocks you to your knees again, as it will, well, isn’t that the best position from which to pray?”

• “You grow up the day you have the first real laugh at yourself.”

• “The best time to make friends is before you need them.”

• “You must learn day by day, year by year, to broaden your horizon. The more things you love, the more you are interested in, the more you enjoy, the more you are indignant about, the more you have left when anything happens.”

• “Our achievements speak for themselves. What we have to keep track of are our failures, discouragements and doubts. We tend to forget the past difficulties, the many false starts, and the painful groping.”

• “The arts are not just instantaneous pleasure — if you don’t like it, the artist is wrong. I belong to the generation which says if you don’t like it, you don’t understand and you ought to find out.”

• “For an actress to be a success, she must have the face of a Venus, the brains of a Minerva, the grace of Terpsichore, the memory of a Macaulay, the figure of Juno, and the hide of a rhinoceros.”

• “I never let them cough. They wouldn’t dare.”

• “The great actors are the luminous ones. They are the great conductors of the stage.”

• “That’s all there is; there isn’t any more.”

• “When the people are unreal, the flowers are unreal, they don’t smell. The fruit is unreal, it doesn’t taste of anything. The whole place is a glaring, gaudy nightmarish set, built up in the desert.” (on Hollywood)

These quotations capture her candor, philosophical bent, and her passion for authenticity in art and life.

Lessons from Ethel Barrymore

What can modern readers, especially artists and admirers, learn from Ethel Barrymore’s life?

1. Endurance & Patience
   Her career did not boom overnight. It evolved over many years, through shifting artistic landscapes. She cultivated a long-term perspective.

2. Integrity Over Stardom
   Despite acclaim, she never surrendered her dignity or sense of craft to mere popularity. Her commitment to artistry was greater than her pursuit of fame.

3. Versatility and Adaptation
   From stage to silent movies, to talkies, radio and TV—she adapted without abandoning her core strengths.

4. Self-Reflection and Humility
   Her quotations about failure, doubt, and growth show a mature weight of self-knowledge. She acknowledged that success also requires wrestling with uncertainty.

5. Invest in Depth
   She believed in expanding one’s interests, loving many things, being indignant about wrongs, and thus building a reservoir of meaning to sustain life—especially in hardship.

6. Advocacy Matters
   Her involvement with Actors’ Equity shows she saw community and fair treatment as part of an artist’s responsibility, not just personal success.

In sum, Ethel Barrymore’s journey teaches us that a life in art need not be ephemeral or shallow—that real impact comes from skill, character, resilience, and a broad, questioning heart.

Conclusion

Ethel Barrymore’s life is a testament to the power of theatre, of disciplined artistry, and of character sustained across change. From a theatrical dynasty, she emerged as her own force—earning respect not just by inheritance but by the fierce integrity of her work and public voice.

Her stories, her lines, her wit and wisdom continue to inspire actors, writers, and lovers of art everywhere. Explore her plays, her films, her quotes—and you’ll find a voice that speaks as clearly today as in her lifetime.

If you’d like, I can also provide a full timeline of her life, more of her lesser-known quotes, or comparisons to other great stage actresses. Would you like me to do that?