'Mrs. C' Makes Friends Wherever She Goes

[Zoneboy]

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The Austin Post-Bulletin spoke with Marion Ross about her career, her visit back to Albert Lea and the dedication.

Q. Why has it been important to you to maintain your connection with your hometown?

A.I really am inside the young girl that wanted to be the actress. It was formed (in Albert Lea,) and I treasure these women I grew up with. When I'm acting, I tap into them. Even Mrs. C from "Happy Days" -- she is these Minnesota ladies. It's natural for me to be that, so in a sense, I've never left.

Q.What kind of advice do you wish you'd been told as you graduated from high school and embarked on your career?

A.I was told that you don't go into show business, and my parents said to me, "How will you live?" I can remember sitting at the dining room table saying, "I won't need anything!" I didn't have a car, I didn't have nice clothes, I didn't have anything. And I didn't notice that I didn't. Now I have everything, and that really wasn't the goal; I just wanted to do it.

Q.What would you tell a small-town girl about to embark on the same kind of career?

A.I would say to really watch your character and your health. I was very careful with myself. I didn't smoke cigarettes; I didn't drink coffee. I was very determined to be different from everybody. What I would see when I went to Hollywood was the corpses on the side of the road, and now it's even worse -- with the Britney Spears things. I would often think, "I'm never going to get anywhere because I'm so nice." But they are all gone, but I'm still here. Also, I would say start now! Immediately! Somehow performing in the church or go to the TV station to sweep up, hang around, get in. Go right where you want to go. Don't put this off into a dream.

Q.What advice would Mrs. C give today's high school graduates?

A.She would want them all to go to college. I'm trying to make peace with that, that if you didn't go to college, it would be OK, because it breaks my heart to see students owing so much money.

Q.Is it true that you changed the spelling of your name from Marian to Marion at age 13 because you thought it would look better on a marquee?

A.I did, yes, (laughing.) I said, "This isn't going to look good at all printed on the player book in gold." But it looks very good on the front of this theater -- good planning!

Q.As you look back on your career, what are you most proud of?

A.I'm very proud of a series I did called "Brooklyn Bridge," which not many people saw because we only made 35 (episodes) at CBS. I played a Jewish-Polish grandmother and I got lots of awards, and I really was proud of that. I'm also very proud that I'm still that Minnesota girl and that I have a very nice reputation. I'm very proud of the fact that I'm well-respected.

Q.What is it like to come back to your hometown and see the local performing arts center named in your honor?

A.It brings me to tears to see that. It's so touching and so unbelievable. To walk around town and have people say (hello) -- wouldn't my mother be pleased? I was nobody in this town before. I'm very grateful (to those in Albert Lea who) worked together to make this happen. A lot of effort went into this, and I really appreciate it.

Q.Do you miss anything about your pre-fame life?

A.No. Because of "Happy Days," everywhere I go and everyone I meet is so nice to me. I like it a lot. Some people don't like that, but I like it a lot. I always feel welcome. If I need something, I can call up anywhere in the United States and say, "Do you watch 'Happy Days'? I'm Mrs. C from 'Happy Days.'" Yes, now we're bonded.

[ponytail]

She is such a sweetie! Call me up Marion!

[catlover79]

What a sweet, classy lady Marion Ross is. We need more people like her.

[Wreckless]

what a classy woman

[YoliUSA]

to Marion.