Театр
Chapter 14
Butwhatdidtheymeanwhentheysaidanactresshadgenius?Juliahadoftenaskedherselfwhatitwasthathadplacedheratlastheadandshouldersabovehercontemporaries.Shehadhaddetractors.Atonetimepeoplehadcomparedherunfavourablywithsomeactressorotherwhoatthemomentenjoyedthepublicfavour,butnownoonedisputedhersupremacy.Itwastruethatshehadnottheworld-widenotorietyofthefilm-stars;shehadtriedherluckonthepictures,buthadachievednosuccess;herfaceonthestagesomobileandexpressiveforsomereasonlostonthescreen,andafteronetrialshehadwithMichael’sapprovalrefusedtoacceptanyoftheoffersthatwerefromtimetotimemadeher.Shehadgotagooddealofusefulpublicityoutofherdignifiedattitude.ButJuliadidnotenvythefilm-stars;theycameandwent;shestayed.WhenitwaspossibleshewenttoseetheperformanceofactresseswhoplayedleadingpartsontheLondonstage.Shewasgenerousinherpraiseofthemandherpraisewassincere.Sometimesshehonestlythoughtthemsoverygoodthatshecouldnotunderstandwhypeoplemadesomuchfussoverher.Shewasmuchtoointelligentnottoknowinwhatestimationthepublicheldher,butshewasmodestaboutherself.Italwayssurprisedherwhenpeopleravedoversomethingshehaddonethatcametohersonaturallythatshehadneverthoughtitpossibletodoanythingelse.Thecriticsadmiredhervariety.Theypraisedespeciallyhercapacityforinsinuatingherselfintoapart.
