JUDY'S SECRET SIN

Written by Louis Berg
From "This Week" magazine July 14, 1956

It's eating! Our movie editor exposes Miss Holliday as an actress who would rather have an eclair than an Oscar

     The truth might as well be told about Judy Holliday before the scandal magazines get hold of it:

     She eats! And once she starts off on a food jag it's a real lost weekend.

     Periodically, when she's making a picture, she straightens herself out, so to speak. Company guards see to it that not a single excess calorie reaches her plate. Back in New York, however, with the restraints lifted, she makes up for lost time.

     Last time she was in from the Coast we had lunch with her in a New York restaurant. The wild gleam in her eye should have warned us we were in for a real binge. The conversation ran roughly as follows:

JUDY: Can we order? Haven't had a bite since breakfast. Can't answer questions now. Look how my hands are shaking.

WE: What'll it be?

JUDY: Make mine a double marinated herring, with sour cream. Then I'll have a double steak straight. Tell the man to bring plenty of bread and gobs of butter. And French fries. I'm starved, but that will do to start with.

WE: Is it true, Judy, that you hide lamb in the chandelier?

JUDY: You've been talking to my husband, the beast! He's a lean and long-hair musician. Why, he doesn't even nibble between meals.

WE: What about the rumor that your friends have to lock up the cookie jar when you come to call?

JUDY: Haven't touched a cookie in weeks. Mind passing the rolls?

     We watched in silence as she polished off a hearty meal.

     Nearby a group of businessmen were starting off on their own lunch. Judy, shoveling in the last mouthful, stared over at their table like a hungry orphan.

WE: (seeking to shame her) Would you like a repeat order?

JUDY: M-m-m-m. Twist my arm! No, don't! I'll just have a little dessert. Apple pie à la mode will do it, with coffee.

     We were filled with pity. "Look, Judy," we said. "You can't go on like this. There's an organization called Appetites Anonymous -- friend of mine's a member; lost thirty-five pounds. Any time you feel you're going to fall off the wagon, give'em a call day or night. They'll rush someone over to comfort you and try to pull you through on bits of soda cracker."

     All kidding aside, Judy Holliday gains from 10 to 25 pounds between pictures, and then has to diet rigorously to regain her svelte and glamorous appearance.

     She doesn't care much for glamour. Left to her own devices, she favors a hairdo that resembles a lawn overgrown with crab grass.

     She came to our meeting dragging a tired-looking fur coat behind her.

WE: Can't you afford mink?

JUDY: (indignantly) This is mink.

WE: And what's that on your head?

JUDY: A hunting cap.

     All this was sheer rebellion against Hollywood. She retained her prejudice in favor of New York even when she caught the grippe in the Big City.

     "What's wrong with that?" she demanded. "You're supposed to catch colds in the winter and swim in the summer. Anything else is crazy."

     Judy's latest pictures are "Solid Gold Cadillac," which is due for release in September, and "Full of Life," which has just finished up. We asked her why she only made one or two pictures a year.

     She drew herself up indignantly. "Who can diet more than that? Want me to starve to death?" -- THE END

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