The Cinema

"Yes, I grew up slowly," said Joan Leslie, the famous actress. "And I think any girl anywhere can live a natural life. I never raced ahead of my age, because in youth is all the beauty and health there is. But a girl must also leave something for her future, or else it becomes tedious."

When Joan Leslie began her acting career she was fifteen years old. But she began by playing parts that required her to appear older than she was. Yet she never once doubted that she was young. And so she paid no attention to the matter, as if it did not concern her.

Now, however — at twenty-one years of age — she feels as though she has not grown up at all. There is the director patting her on the shoulder, saying, "Little Joanie," whenever she tries to offer an opinion on the direction or anything else. This is what cost her two roles she had resolved to play, one of them in the famous story Constant nymph; the director would not accept her because she was under the age the two roles required.

Joan — like other people — has her own "recipe" for success. It is: "Be patient, and be ready to seize opportunities." And there is much evidence to prove this theory sound. When she came to Hollywood to work, and began moving from one studio to another, she did not forget to set aside some of her time for study. She is still studying to this day. She is now studying ballet, and is preparing to appear in the Marilyn Miller film. As for her one hope in life, it is to live a full and successful life. For this reason she is studying psychology, so as to understand — as she says — herself and the human beings around her. She takes no interest at all in her adornment; even her clothes she does not give much of her attention. Some girls may think they have grown up when they can leave their mothers or go out at night, but the truth is that many of them leave their homes before they have reached the degree of shrewdness and good sense with which they can face life's problems on their own. Joan is not one of them. She credits this to her parents, who fill the atmosphere of the home with love and harmony. She says that the best advice a person can get is what he hears at home, from his parents.

As for Joan's conduct and behavior, it is a strange thing. She does not like Hollywood's night life, and she hates dates with the fiercest hatred. And yet she does not hate the sterner sex. But she has

theories about that. She does not believe that a girl who wants to live a full and successful life can go out every night. Joan has replaced Hollywood's night life with the family parties she gives, with outings, and with sports.

As for love, she knows nothing about it, because she is still young, as she says. The boy of her dreams has not yet appeared to her; and when he appears, she will throw herself into his arms and kiss him long.