Lily Tomlin
Lily Tomlin
Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin is an American actress, comedian, writer, singer and producer. Tomlin began her career as a stand-up comedian, and performing Off-Broadway during the 1960s. Her breakout role was performing as a cast member on the variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1970 until 1973. She currently stars on the Netflix series Grace and Frankie as Frankie Bergstein. Her performance as Frankie garnered her nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTV Actress
Date of Birth1 September 1939
CityDetroit, MI
CountryUnited States of America
I never thought of myself as any kind of a film star, as many films as I've made - and I've made some really fun movies with good people. I've always been paired with someone because I'm not really box office, in that carrying-a-picture sense. I've always been busy, but not in the spotlight.
I never officially came out in any kind of really public way. I just always lived very simply and openly, but the press has never made a big fuss about me or said anything to me.
I grew up in a time when women didn't really do comedy. You had to be homely, overweight, an old maid, all that. You had to play a stereotype, because very attractive women were not supposed to be funny - because it's powerful; it's a threat.
I've always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific.
The problem with winning the rat race is you're still a rat.
I think we always kind of look forward to seeing each other. Dolly and Jane are both so kind of optimistic and upbeat, you know?
If you read a lot of books, you're considered well-read. But if you watch a lot of TV, you're not considered well-viewed.
You don't really need to get married, but marriage is awfully nice. Everybody I know who got married, they say it really makes a difference. They feel very, very happy about it.
What is reality, anyway? Just a collective hunch.
When I was 9 or 10, I had a ten-cent business: I would walk your dog for a dime, go to the store for a dime, empty your garbage for a dime - and then I could use the money to buy tricks at the magic store.
Many times I sit back and say, 'I can't believe that this is my life!' Other times, I feel self-satisfied. I mean, there's a lot to be proud and thankful for but, nonetheless, it's just a life!
I think my politics are just inclined to be empathetic and humanistic. I grew up with so many different kinds of people with different politics, different religion, no religion, no politics, education, no education, and I was infatuated with all of them.
It was just a funny notion about everything. We were lucky that Jane had such a passion for it and she, from the beginning, wanted the two of us; Dolly and me.
You look around and you see that George Carlin and Willie Nelson are doing as well as ever. ... You can grow old and still be vital.