What Would Audrey Do Wednesday

Dealing With The Press (part 2):

Keep them at arm's distance. If you are a world-famous actress, physical separation is terrific for keeping the press hounds at bay. During her off hours, living in a small village in Switzerland, rather than Bel-Air, and being generally inaccessible was Audrey's way of dealing with the picayune attention that came with having one of the most recognizable faces in the world.

Just say no. The first time AH was supposed to be interviewed by Barbara Walters in 1971, she turned her down because she had not heard of her and did not want to answer personal questions. In the years that followed, Barbara became a bit more well known, and AH was interviewed by her in 1989.

Hold your ground. No matter what the reporter asks, always hold your ground and answer the question that you want to answer. In a rare filmed interview following a 1963 press conference announcing the making of My Fair Lady on the Warner lot, the reporter repeatedly tries to corner Audrey and put words in her mouth. She waits, thinks, sometimes asks him to clarify his question, occasionally gives him a dazzling smile, and answers exactly what she wants. It is quite a performance.

When dealing with the press, the main thing is: Don't be intimidated; hold your ground, and try to have as clear a sense as possible of what you want to say before you go on - that way, you will make sure that you get your point across.

Ask for final edit. If you are on a news program, ask if you can have final edit. Unless you are Bill Clinton, it is very unlikely you will ever get this, but what the heck - it can't hurt to ask. Conversely, find out if the show is live, or live to tape. Although (possibly) more nerve-racking, this is potentially better for you, since the producers cannot edit your comments to make you look silly. Given the kinder media era she grew up in, Audrey never had to worry about any of this.

Don't live in the press. There are some people (you know who you are) who live to be in the media. They could be Madonna, they could be the owner of the local car dealership who never met a reporter he did not like. Remember, if you live by the sword, you will die by the sword, so the best thing to do is either stay out of the press as much as possible or use it to your advantage only when you want to, as AH did.

**all information comes from the book: What Would Audrey Do by Pamela Keogh