This is a collection of quotes, random factoids and other stuff that didn't really fit in anywhere else.
- During rehearsal’s for Dances With Wolves, Mary had to learn bareback horse riding and was nick-named ‘Dust In Her Face’ because, “All the guys would take off, and I’d be back there going really slowly with my trainer.”
[From “8 Women Of The American Stage”, 1997]
- Sayles first met her in 1983, when he was in the midst of an aborted first attempt at casting Matewan. “Really good actress, a bit young,” he wrote in his notes. But by the time filming actually began three years later, Sayles wrote, “Mary didn't look much older but seemed older in terms of experience - whatever she had lived was available and apparent in her acting.”
By the time she was cast in the lead role of May-Alice in Passion Fish, McDonnell's experience had reached the point where she needed little direction from Sayles. “Mary McDonnell wouldn't let me finish a sentence,” he remembered. “I would get halfway through the sentence, she would say, ‘got it’ and walk away.”
[From “The John Sayles Stock Company” website]
- Mary likes her tea hot, with a little lemon.
[From “www.northernlightfilms.com” website, December 1999]
- Two-time Academy Award nominee Mary McDonnell will take one of Tennessee Williams’ immortal creations in San Jose Repertory Theatre's presentation of Orpheus Descending. In the early 1980's, both Artistic Director Timothy Near and Ms. McDonnell recieved Obie Awards for their performances in the New York, Chicago and Los Angeles prodution of Still Life and have remained friends ever since. “Acting with Mary was one of the most enlightening experiences of my life and I'm thrilled that her schedule will allow her to come to the Rep,” said Ms Near. “With her concentration, truth and extraordinary depth of feeling, I know Mary's portrayal of ‘Lady’ in Orpheus Descending will be amazing and not to be missed.”
[From “San Jose Repertory Theatre” website, 2003]
- Commenting on Mary McDonnell (President Laura Roslin), Jamie Bamber (Apollo) said: “She can just light up a scene with her smile.” He noted that both Olmos and McDonnell are Oscar-nominated actors and, “it’s a right treat to work with them.”
[From “Comic-Con”, 2005]
- When “Battlestar Galactica” returned to Comic-Con this year, it landed in a ballroom jammed with supporters who couldn't wait to discuss this erudite, politically astute serial that TV Guide dubbed one of the best dramas on television. And one of the show's leading ladies couldn't wait to give the fans credit for keeping it aloft. “You are deeply interested in the metaphysical,” actress Mary McDonnell said. “You are deeply into politics. You are deeply interested in the environment, and you are deeply interested in sex. So thank you for that.”
[From “UNION-TRIBUNE, SignOnSanDiego.com”, July 2005]
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