Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It

Mae West said "Too much of a good thing is wonderful," and that sentiment was indicative of her attitude toward life. West cultivated a reputation as a sensualist, a "bad girl" who enjoyed being bad, but she was actually a humorist and a clever writer and actress.

West was born on this day in 1893. Always a charismatic person, she hit it big with her movie debut in a film called NIGHT AFTER NIGHT. Her role was small, but she asked if she could re-write her lines and she ended up stealing the show, according to her costar, the actor George Raft. Her most famous line from the movie happened when a coat-check girl said, "Goodness, what lovely diamonds," to which West replied, "Goodness had nothing to do with it, Dearie."

West's one-liners are still famous, as were her on-screen performances with actors including Cary Grant, Randolph Scott, and W.C. Fields.

Many a woman in Hollywood today may try to convey an aura of confident sexuality, but Mae West was a daring--and often censored--pioneer for equality and individualism.

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