Actorviews (1923)

The Double Life of Ina Claire 59 marriage which makes the supposed difference to her so-called following. I wanted to find out whether marriage, like murder, will out in an actress’ work. And I learned. Nobody knows till you tell ’em, and then it makes no difference. It’s all superstition!” And she whirled her walking stick. “Then you would advise young ladies of your profession to marry early?” “Early as they please ; but I shouldn’t advise them to marry drama critics.” “You mean it’s cruel to the critic?” “Nothing of the kind! It’s cruel to the actress; her husband can’t praise her in the public prints, and the other critics are apt to write lukewarmly of one who has married into their tribe. And not being in a position to praise her, an actress’ critic-husband is apt to go the other way — as Jimmie did when, after we’d been married more than a year, he one day dramatically spilled the beans by writing for his paper: ‘When she married me Ina Claire told me she was an actress, but there is nothing in “The Gold Diggers” to prove she told the truth.’ I don’t think any critic ought to establish his reputation for justness at the expense of his wife.” “You didn’t foresee that situation?” “Of course I didn’t. Jimmie wasn’t a drama critic when I married him ; he was only an honest newspaper man.” “Oh!” “Still” — she weighed it, smiling dearly — “the situation has its advantages. Jimmie is never called Mr. Claire in my presence — nor am I called Mrs. Whittaker in his. We are the most publicly unmarried married couple that I know. We’ve got two names, two professions, two salaries — but, thank God, only one home!”