On screen she's soared to success; in private life she's touched tragedy. From the two, a new Piper has emerged...one who may surprise you.

Piper Laurie has changed. She's not the same girl who jumped into stardom, along with Tony Curtis five years ago, when both, comparative unknowns, were given the leading roles in The Prince Who Was a Thief. She's no longer the wide-eyed, scared 18-year old who hesitantly nibbled on a few rose petals to prove that she was the girl who ate flowers. Piper has NOT gone Hollywood. But more than anyone, she's changed- because the impressionistic little girl is now a very, very realistic one. In one of the frankest interviews ever given, Piper opened her secret heart to reveal just how deep these changes have been.
It was a long, hard day before the musical-comedy camera of Ain't Misbehavin'. In this, Piper not only sings, but shows what a good dancer she is. She wasn't either before the film went into preparation, so it meant nothing but rehearsals and lessons, before, during and after each day's shooting. It meant studying and working out on Sundays and any time off from the set. It meant going back to work when she still had a fever from a case of the flu. It meant determination to tackle the job and prove she could handle it.
Piper had finished work after one of these days. The time was 10:30p.m. She had been working since early that morning and she had to be in wardrobe at 9:30 the next morning. She had moved into her dressing room on the UI lot. "So I'll save an hour in traveling and I won't use up any of the strength I need by driving," she laughed. What about the changes, we asked her. "Well", she smiled, "I have a feeling inside that I have matured- but I didn't know that it showed." She admitted then that most everything about her attitude and philosophy had undergone an immense adjustment in the past year. For instance, her relationship with the men in her life.
When we asked her about it, Piper talked with a new frankness. "Before I was under contract to UI, my ideal-type fella, on the screen, was Gregory Peck. I also had a crush on Dana Andrews (with whom I later worked). Oh yes, I really had a crush on him- I saw Fallen Angel 12 times! My other choice on the screen was Laurence Olivier." Today's list still includes these men but she's added Cary Grant, Jeff Chandler and Michael Redgrave.
"When you actually think about it," she said pensively, "when I was in high school and through my first few years here, my choice of guy always was the tall, dark variety." And she admitted, like most gals her age, the first thing she noticed about someone of the opposite sex was his looks. "Now", said Piper, "of course, I notice if anyone's attractive. But that is NOT one of the characteristics I look for. As a matter of fact I have learned to minimize physical attributes." If we examine the list of boys whom she used to date, we notice they all fall into the same 'looks' pattern. Dick contino, Vic Damone and Tony Curtis were the three she saw mostly in those days. Now, the one she's most associated with is G. David Schine, who is sandy-haired and of fair complexion. And as for his being the "number one" boy, well it just isn't so, says Piper. "There isn't any 'number one' right now. Matter of fact there isn't any number from which to choose any 'number one'."
The reason for Piper's comparative lack of dates is simple. First of all, she was up to her ears in this picture for six months. And secondly, she says, "I don't usually go out unless I really like a boy. Looks like I'll be an old maid." However, it will be a long time before Piper can find as wonderful a friend as was the late Leonard Goldstein. "It was a very precious friendship," she said. "I shall always be grateful that he was my friend, and I was very, very fortunate in knowing him. Piper and Leonard could go out to a movie and that would be the entire date- he would bring her home early, by 9 or 10 o'clock if she wanted to get up early.
"It's not easy," says Piper, "to have an early date like that with everyone you go out with- and still have a most enjoyable evening. Besides, in this business, it's goood for you to try to see a lot of what's going on in the industry- but also to try and get to bed early- as rest is mighty important when you work hard, long hours." How come, we wondered, it was so difficult to find fellas who wouldn't be happy with "short" dates- and coming home early?" "Well", she smiled, "seems that after a while, when you either tell a boy you have get home early, or you can only go out on certain nights- well, he gives up.
But Piper isn't worried about those guys who give up- she's not worried aobut them now, because her ideas on men have changed a little, too. And her sister Sherrye has helped Piper change. "My sister and I," Piper revealed "never liked our red hair- and we both hated red-headed boys. Both of us made a vow that we'd never date a redhead. "So you know what happened- she married a redhead!" And what about Piper's wedding plans? "Sure I'd love to be married," she quickly admitted. "And I'd love to have lots of babies. And furthermore, when I do get married, that will be IT. No more career, acting, movies, or what have you. I don't say that every girl who gets married should quit her career- but I'm not one of those people who wouldn't be able to do both the way I'd like to do both! If I'm to be a wife and mother- that's a full-time job for me."
It's unusual for a girl as young as Piper with so much ahead of her career-wise, to be so definite about retiring when she marries. Yet, talking to her, we could feel her sincerity and we think she means it with all her heart. But till the man comes along, Piper is just as earnest and clear-headed about her career. "When I was still in high school," she said, "I always wanted to do very heavy dramatic roles; I had visions of being a great dramatic actress. And you know something- it's much easier to be a dramatic actress than any other type." Through the hard work of her new musical, she found out that this type of entertainment is much more difficult- not only on the performer- but also to please the viewer! "And as for comedy, added to the musical," she laughed, "now that is just about the toughest work of all!"
Ain't Misbehavin' is definitely the toughest role she's ever done! "And", said Piper, "when I was first starting out in the business. I could never even picture myself doing something like this." She went into rehearsals for it back in August and didn't wind it up until mid-January of this year! Although it was tough, she loved it, and now is waiting to see if the public goes for it as much as she did- and whether we'd like to see her do more of the same- because she would like this change of pace to keep up.
Piper's tastes in movies she sees- and how she sees them- has changed, too. "I used to see nothing but 'heavy' movies," she told us. "Maybe for the purpose of losing myself in the roles which I thought I could play. "Now I go to see everything which I think I SHOULD see as a performer. And I will often go to see a film twice to also study it technically." Now, who would have thought, just a year ago, that Piper Laurie would be studying the technical end of film making? No one. But now, she's mighty serious about this business- and just what part she'll play in it. Her favorite films today, instead of being romantic dramas, and other heavyweight fare, are the Walt Disney natural history series!
"You see", she laughed, "in one respect I haven't changed. I'm still crazy about animals." And that she is. She still has her three pooches and fish collection and is a sucker for any animal story brought on the lot! We wondered if the experience on Ain't Misbehavin', her living on the lot, had given her any ideas. "What kind?" Like moving out of the house she shares with her parents and going off on her own with her own house, or apartment.
"Nope. And the reason's simple. But first of all, let me admit this that it was fun coming into this little suite [the dressing room] where I have a stove, refrigerator, and practically all the comforts of a home. But it's not home. "You see," she said definitly, "I love my house and my parents. I'm pretty lucky. I have some pretty wonderful parents and like to see them. Of course, if I want to be by myself any time while I'm home, and there are such moments, too, it's no problem. I just go to my bedroom, which also has a nice little den attached, and I can have all the privacy I want."
Piper refuses to fall into any pattern set by any of the crowd at the studio- or in Hollywood. She's an individualist- and has become even more so in the past year. "I find one of the greatest things I learned from Leonard was courage," Piper said, "And now, after he's gone, I find that I have more courage than I ever had before. It's necessary to make everything you do important and right and have the courage of your convictions. "I used to be timid- I never had the guts to tell anyone when anything didn't seem right to me. Now I have the courage to stand up and state my case, no matter what I think may be the outcome. "After all," she laughed, "the worst thing that could happen is being fired!" And there's no one around in his right mind who'd do that.
Yes, you can see that Piper's changed and some lucky guy in Hollywood's going to take the time to discover alll these wonderful changes. Then it'll be like Piper says- goodbye to Hollywood for her. In her secret hear, her plans are set.