I was always cutting dialogue out when we were rehearsing, and when I produced movies, too. I felt that people don’t say things in life – they act, they do things. I always wanted my characters doing, rather than saying what they were doing – which was redundant.

Meaning of the quote

The quote means that Donna Mills, an American actress, preferred to show her characters taking action rather than just talking about what they were doing. She felt that in real life, people mostly act and do things instead of just saying them. So when she was working on movies, she would cut out dialogue that she thought was unnecessary or repetitive, and instead have her characters demonstrate their thoughts and feelings through their actions.

About Donna Mills

Donna Mills is an acclaimed American actress known for her long-running role on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing. She’s had a diverse career, appearing in films, TV movies, and even daytime soap operas, earning multiple awards and accolades along the way. From her early breakout roles to her more recent work, Donna Mills has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.

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More quotes from Donna Mills

I always wanted to know what lens they were on, how close they were. I didn’t do it with a plan in mind, but I would instinctively gear what I was doing toward what lenses they were using.

Donna Mills

American actress

I also loved musicals because I was a dancer.

Donna Mills

American actress

You know, when they called me about the role, I thought Knots Landing was a show about a houseboat with Andy Griffith!

Donna Mills

American actress

I always wanted to go against hat grain because it was too restricting.

Donna Mills

American actress

Early on in my career, I’d go into the makeup trailer, and they’d spend an hour doing my makeup, and I would hate it. I’d go into the bathroom, wash it off and start over again, which took an enormous amount of time. So I just started doing it myself.

Donna Mills

American actress

My message is – keep moving. If you do, you’ll keep arthritis at bay.

Donna Mills

American actress

I thought it was very important that femininity wasn’t lost.

Donna Mills

American actress

Scarlett O’Hara didn’t think she was manipulating. That’s just the way she got what she wanted.

Donna Mills

American actress

A lot of actors just do whatever they do, and wherever the camera is, it is. They don’t pay much attention, but I always did. I was always very close to the camera crew. They were my best buddies, no matter what movie or show I was doing.

Donna Mills

American actress

I feel more comfortable in front of a camera than anywhere else.

Donna Mills

American actress

I was always cutting dialogue out when we were rehearsing, and when I produced movies, too. I felt that people don’t say things in life – they act, they do things. I always wanted my characters doing, rather than saying what they were doing – which was redundant.

Donna Mills

American actress

Even colors were important to me. If it was a somber scene, the colors were muted and dark. If it was a happy or seductive scene, the colors were brighter.

Donna Mills

American actress

I was tired of playing the goodie-two-shoes.

Donna Mills

American actress

I was brought up Catholic, and my family is still very religious.

Donna Mills

American actress

I’m back to doing everything I used to, loving life as ever.

Donna Mills

American actress

I found through my fan mail that women… really wanted a role model.

Donna Mills

American actress

There were episodes where I would wear seven or eight outfits. It took a lot of time to get those together. What the character wears is very essential to how I create the character.

Donna Mills

American actress

One of my favorite movies is The Little Foxes.

Donna Mills

American actress

If there is anything I would do differently in my life, it is that I would study business more. I’m trying to teach my daughter Chloe at an early age about investing and money so she’s not afraid of it.

Donna Mills

American actress

You really have to love the work. You can’t look for stardom. That’s a by-product.

Donna Mills

American actress

The lighting is so important. One thing that makes me nuts about the lighting now is that they spend an enormous amount of time lighting the set, the background. But the most important thing in the scene is the actor.

Donna Mills

American actress

I kept bugging them about making it more upscale, because I felt Abby, through her cleverness and business sense, was a character who would move up. And that’s what she did.

Donna Mills

American actress

I always wore the highest heels possible, because the other women on the show were tall.

Donna Mills

American actress

My father was a middle manager at an oil company, but I never knew anything about his work. Whatever business acumen I have just got gleaned over the years.

Donna Mills

American actress

Rita Hayworth in Gilda… there’s not a shot of her in that movie that isn’t gorgeous.

Donna Mills

American actress