Ann Nyberg shares Katharine Hepburn stories in new book
Ann Nyberg adores old movies and movie stars. The WTNH-TV (ABC) anchor even has a vintage boutique in her hometown of Madison named Annie Mame, and she’s on the board of directors of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, named after the star, who lived in Fenwick borough on Long Island Sound until her death at 96 in 2003.
And so nobody had to twist Nyberg’s arm to write a book about one of her most beloved actresses. Just published, her book is titled “Remembering Katharine Hepburn: Stories of Wit and Wisdom About America’s Leading Lady.” The Kate will host a launch party for the book on Sunday.
In the following interview Nyberg shares some of her stories about Katharine Hepburn and writing the book.
Q. How far back does your interest in Katharine Hepburn go?
A. I love old Hollywood. So I think I sort of live in the past, back in the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s. I feel like it was a better time. People had style, and now, not so much. Even the actresses were working at a feverous pitch and they were putting out movies, movies, movies. Katharine Hepburn was a favorite of mine. I loved her in the movie “Desk Set.” And Rosalyn Russell was also a favorite of mine, who did “Auntie Mame,” which was why my shop is Annie Mame. But there was something very unique about (Hepburn), very gorgeous about her. I grew up in the Midwest, so this sort of lock-jawed actress was captivating to me. I think what really cemented it was when I was asked to be on the board of The Kate; it sort of came full circle. And I got to see and hear more about her. I got to know the folks in Fenwick and Old Saybrook and kind of lived among people who were fiercely protective of this woman. She would have been 110 next year.
Q. Why do you think people are so fascinated by her?
A. She’s still as much of an icon as she always was. If you Google her name, it comes up every day, every day someone is redoing one of her plays or wearing her (signature) pants or trousers or (replaying) her voice. Writing this book, I found her bold, brash and beautiful. In my book I write, ‘There were no gray areas with her,’ and there weren’t. She demanded respect and she got it, although she had very tough times in her life, very low moments like everyone else. She was an anomaly. Who is this person? People are still trying to get to the core of her and I’m happy to be along for the ride.
Q. Why did you decide to write this book now? Had you been thinking about it for a while?
A. I never thought about it for one second. I finished my first book (“Slices of Life, A Storyteller’s Diary”) with my first publishing house, Homebound Publications in Stonington, and started on a book tour last fall. And then Globe Pequot Press in Guilford called me and said, ‘We want you to write a book on Katharine Hepburn.’ And I said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ My first thought was what could I possibly add to what has been written over decades and decades? And they said, ‘You know Fenwick, you know Old Saybrook, you’re a founding member of the theater. We think you can write vignettes and stories and little pieces people don’t know about her. And then I got to thinking, ‘You know, I think I can do this’ and then I thought, oh my God this is such a daunting task, who do I think I am? And then, there it was.
Q. Can you talk about your research, sources and, in particular, Hepburn’s brother-in-law, Ellsworth Grant? Did he give you the scoop on things that hadn’t been written about her?
A. We would meet and (developed) a friendship. He was so delightful and charming, and before he died, about three years ago, he’d written up a manuscript for me. Some of it he had published before. But they were all these little vignettes. He gave me the manuscript and signed it. And so when they came to me to write the book, I thought this is the perfect place to put these vignettes.
Q. What kinds of things did you learn?
A. I got to know about her as a young woman, and the fact that the guy she married and divorced — because she didn’t want to be married — was with her until the end. He was at family functions, taking pictures, movies, and she took care of him. I think what I got from (Ellsworth) was how motherly she could be. Even though she didn’t have kids, she looked after people she knew. She loved Fenwick, a community unto itself. And people don’t talk; they’re very protective of her. (Although) since I’ve written this book, people know it’s coming out and other little stories are coming my way.
Q. Did you learn anything about Hepburn that was surprising?
A. Little nuances I found out as a journalist that I wanted to get underneath. I talked to somebody at the Stratford Theater, who had tea with her all the time. She told me about what she drank, what she wore, that she loved to paint, and toward the end of her life she had little watercolor sets like you get in a five & dime. She didn’t want to spend money. She was very thrifty. She’d say, ‘You go out and eat and save the money you’d spend on me.’ She was a woman way ahead of her time. She knew her good side, her bad side, her vulnerabilities, of which I think there were many, but she pushed through them. There was always a lesson, she was always teaching.
Q. You’re a big supporter of The Kate. Is there anything you want to say about the theater?
A. I was a founding member, seven years ago, and my enthusiasm for the place has not waned at all. My husband Mark asked me, ‘How long will you be on this board?’ I can’t imagine not being on this board. The arts make life worth living. The arts are everything. For (Hepburn) it was all about the work, the work. That’s what drove her to the end. If I could have half of her spirit that would be pretty awesome. I’ve got to work on that.
Q. Anything else you’d like to add?
A. I’m delighted that I was asked to do this. Never in my wildest imagination would I be the author of a book about probably, arguably the most iconic actor of the 20th century. How did that happen?
“Remembering Katharine Hepburn” by Ann Nyberg (Globe Pequot Press) is $16.95, hardcover.
IF YOU GO
What: Book launch and reception with Ann Nyberg, author of “Remembering Katharine Hepburn”
When: Today at 4:30 p.m.
Where: The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook
Cost: Tickets are $40; purchase online at http://katharinehepburntheater.org. Ticket includes a signed copy of the book, reception with snacks and wine, a reading and booksigning with Nyberg and conversations about the book. Proceeds benefit The Kate’s programming and community arts engagement.
Coming up: Nyberg also will give a talk and booksigning on Saturday, Oct. 29, from noon to 2 p.m. at Parthenon Diner, Old Saybrook, 809 Boston Post Road, and on Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. at RJ Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison. Event is free, but registration is required at www.rjjulia.com or by calling (203) 245-3959.
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