Helen Hayes

Helen Hayes – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the inspiring life of Helen Hayes — the “First Lady of American Theatre.” Explore her early years, dramatic achievements, famous quotes, and lasting legacy in theatre and philanthropy.

Introduction

Helen Hayes (October 10, 1900 – March 17, 1993) was a towering figure of 20th-century American theatre, film, and television. Often called the “First Lady of American Theatre”, she was one of the very few to win the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony).

Her career spanned more than eight decades, through silent film, the Golden Age of Hollywood, Broadway’s rebirth, and television’s rise. Today, her legacy endures not only through her performances but also through institutions like the Helen Hayes Awards and the Helen Hayes Hospital.

In this article, we’ll dive into her biography, her artistry and philosophy, her best-known quotes, and lessons we can draw from her life.

Early Life and Family

Helen Hayes Brown was born on October 10, 1900, in Washington, D.C. Her mother, Catherine Estelle “Essie” (née Hayes), harbored ambitions for the stage and often traveled with touring theatrical companies. Her father, Francis van Arnum Brown, held various jobs — from clerk to butcher’s salesman — in order to support the household.

Hayes’ maternal grandparents had emigrated from Ireland during the Great Famine. From a young age, she was immersed in the world of performance. Between 1910 and 1912, she attended Dominican Academy (Upper East Side, New York) and appeared in plays like The Old Dutch and Little Lord Fauntleroy. She later attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart Convent in Washington, graduating around 1917.

Her early exposure to theatre, combined with a resilient spirit, laid the foundation for a lifelong devotion to the dramatic arts.

Youth and Education

From childhood, Hayes demonstrated precocious talent and passion for performance. At the age of five, she appeared in stage productions.

She balanced schooling with theatrical engagements. While she attended convent schools and academies, she continued to audition and perform in local productions. Her formal educational path was always interwoven with her growing commitment to acting.

Despite the conventional expectations of young women in her era, Hayes pursued her calling on stage—a choice that would require sacrifices but would result in a luminous career.

Career and Achievements

Early Stage and Film

Hayes’ first introductions to the stage date back to childhood performances. By 1910 she made her first foray into film with Jean and the Calico Doll.

Her breakthrough in sound cinema came with The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Other significant films include Arrowsmith, A Farewell to Arms, The White Sister, Vanessa: Her Love Story, and Another Language.

Although she moved into film, Hayes never abandoned the stage. In 1935 she made a triumphant return to Broadway, playing Victoria Regina for three years in Gilbert Miller’s production.

Later Film and Screen Work

In 1970, Hayes won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Airport. She appeared in a number of Disney films, including Herbie Rides Again, One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing, and Candleshoe.

As television matured, she embraced it. She earned Emmy nominations and won an Emmy during her career. Remarkably, she was among the very few who attained EGOT status (Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Tony). She also was the first person to win the Triple Crown of Acting — major acting awards in theatre, film, and television.

Awards, Honors & Philanthropy

• Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

• National Medal of Arts in 1988.

• She was in the inaugural class inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1972.

• The Helen Hayes Awards, founded in 1983, honor excellence in professional theatre in the Washington, D.C. area.

• The Helen Hayes Theatre in New York (initially the Fulton Theatre) was renamed in her honor; when that was torn down, the Little Theatre on West 44th Street was renamed the Helen Hayes Theatre.

• Her greatest pride, she often claimed, was her 49-year involvement with the Helen Hayes Hospital, a rehabilitation center in New York. She actively participated in fundraising, governance, and advocacy.

Her contributions extended beyond performing: she supported causes in health, the arts, children’s welfare, and preserved legacy projects.

Historical Milestones & Context

Helen Hayes’ life intersected with many transformative eras in theatre, film, and broadcasting:

• The shift from silent to sound film

• The rise of Hollywood's Golden Age

• The evolution of Broadway drama

• The growth of television as a dramatic medium

She navigated these changes with adaptability. For example, when stage dust aggravated her asthma, she gradually retreated from live theatre.

The renaming and re-use of theatres in New York reflect how her name itself became part of the theatrical infrastructure.

In Washington, the Helen Hayes Awards incentivized and spotlighted quality theatre in a cultural capital often overshadowed by Broadway.

Her lifetime also spanned world wars, the Great Depression, the civil rights movement, and rapid media changes — through it all, she remained active, involved, and evolving.

Legacy and Influence

Helen Hayes remains a paragon of theatrical excellence. She is often held as a model for sustained artistry, integrity, and graciousness in public life.

• Her name continues in the Helen Hayes Awards, which spotlight D.C. theatre and nurture new talent.

• The Helen Hayes Theatre ensures her name is forever linked to Broadway’s history.

• The Helen Hayes Hospital remains a functioning institution of rehabilitation, bearing testament to her dedication to service.

• Many actors, playwrights, directors, and theatre organizers cite her career as inspiring — for longevity, versatility, and commitment to craft.

Her journey challenges the notion of ephemeral fame. She molded a career that was not just about star moments, but a lifelong dialogue with performance, philanthropy, and purpose.

Personality and Talents

Helen Hayes was praised for her warmth, modesty, and deep respect for her work and her peers. She exuded an elegance without hauteur, a sense of humility even when she commanded stages.

She possessed:

• Versatility — equally convincing in tragedy, drama, and gentle comedy

• Emotional honesty — allowed vulnerability and strength to coexist in roles

• Discipline and perseverance — she held to high standards through decades

• Philanthropic spirit — using her celebrity to uplift communities and causes

She also wrestled with personal loss: the death of her daughter Mary (1930–1949) affected her deeply. Her health challenges (notably asthma) gradually constrained her stage work, but she adapted to new mediums.

Her faith, relationships, and love for theatre infused her life with meaning beyond applause.

Famous Quotes of Helen Hayes

Here are some of her most resonant quotes, offering glimpses into her wisdom and worldview:

“The expert at anything was once a beginner.” “If you rest, you rust.” “From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other. But when books are opened you discover that you have wings.” “My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. … Always aim for achievement and forget about success.” “Only the poet can look beyond the detail and see the whole picture.” “We relish news of our heroes, forgetting that we are extraordinary to somebody too.” “The truth is that there is only one terminal dignity — love … what is important is that one is capable of love.” “Actors cannot choose the manner in which they are born. … it is the one gesture in their lives completely devoid of self-consciousness.” “Everybody starts at the top, and then has the problem of staying there. Lasting accomplishment, however, is still achieved through a long, slow climb and self-discipline.” “Age is not important unless you’re a cheese.”

These quotations reflect her lifelong themes: growth, perseverance, love, humility, artistry, and self-reliance.

Lessons from Helen Hayes

1. Begin humbly, aim high
   Her quote “The expert at anything was once a beginner” reminds us that mastery often begins with small steps.

2. Keep growing — don’t stagnate
   “If you rest, you rust.” Hayes believed in continuous movement, learning, and renewal.

3. Define success from within
   Her distinction between achievement (inner standard) and success (external praise) encourages intrinsic motivation.

4. Embrace multiple forms and media
   She didn’t limit herself to stage — she evolved with film, television, and public service.

5. Use influence for good
   Her devotion to hospitals, awards programs, and philanthropy demonstrates how artists can leverage fame for impact.

6. Balance vulnerability and strength
   Her life was marked by public acclaim and personal sorrow; she navigated both with dignity.

7. Leave a legacy beyond oneself
   Her name lives on in theatres, awards, and institutions — a testament that a life well lived can echo through generations.

Conclusion

Helen Hayes was more than an exceptional performer — she was a steward of theatre, a compassionate advocate, and a symbol of sustained, principled artistry. Her life reminds us that the path of excellence is not a sprint but a marathon, fueled by passion, perseverance, and a purpose that transcends personal fame.

If you’re inspired by her words, career, or spirit, you might explore her memoirs My Life in Three Acts and On Reflection — or delve deeper into plays and performances she starred in. And perhaps, in your own life, ask: “In what way can I use my talents not just for self, but for something bigger?”