#WomenDoingAwesomeThingsWednesday Rosalind Russell

Being typed as a lady is the greatest misfortune possible to a motion picture actress. It limits your characterizations, confines you to play feminine sops and menaces and the public never highly approves of either. An impeccably dressed lady is always viewed with suspicion in real life and when you strut onto the screen with beautiful clothes and charming manners, the most naive of theatergoers senses immediately that you are in a position to do the hero no good. I earnestly want to get away from this. First, because I want to improve my career and professional life and, secondly because I am tired of being a clothes horse - a sort of hothouse orchid in a stand of wild flowers.

• Took a job at a stock company against her parent's objection
• Signed her Universal Studios contract wearing the dowdiest clothes with messy hair and smeared makeup when MGM was also courting her at the same time and Russell preferring MGM instead.
• Refused to be placed in the Best Supporting Actress category when Columbia Pictures promoted her for a nomination in Picnic (1955)
• Demanded $750 when acting on the New Jersey Theater when she was waking $42.50
• Convinced Universal Studios to release her from her contract lamenting her naivete and lack of knowledge of the studio system
• Easily repelled Louis B. Mayer from making a tentative pass at her