MM: Humanitarian efforts have been very important to you throughout your life. Four decades ago you wrote a beautiful song called “Here’s To All Who Love” that was recently adopted as a marriage equality anthem. What inspired you to write that song?
MH: I don’t know. I have no way of knowing. I’m intensely musical. Both my parents were musical. My mother was a professional for operas and concerts and my father played beautiful violin, even though he wasn’t a musician, he was a lawyer. My sister and a young uncle and I formed a trio when I was in my teens. We had a weekly program on the radio. They didn’t pay us and we didn’t pay them to be on the air. I’ve been filled with music all my life. You’ve made my day for telling me that, maybe my week. I was not aware that anyone had ever heard of it, much less heard the song. That’s a delight to find out.
Hunt with director Roger C. Memos
MM: You had a very prolific acting career but you still found time to achieve these incredible humanitarian efforts. Why was this important to you?
MH: There is no answer to that. It might be how I was brought up—to care about people and wish for the best of circumstances. It was such a thrill to realize a name familiar to the public could make a difference to people about issues, to use your name for a purpose other than just being famous. That was such an amazing stroke of luck that I was delighted to espouse things I really cared about so I did. Some of it got me in trouble of course because they were unpopular at the moment.
MM: You still managed to accomplish many wonderful things.
MH: Thank you so much for the interest you’ve taken. I’m an unfamiliar name to most of the public. My name wouldn’t be known to most people today. Some of my films are still going around and if they are learning about me for the first time then that is wonderful.
MM: I hope you have a wonderful birthday next week. How will you celebrate?
MH: Thank you. There are some nice plans underway. It’s going to be big. I’m blessed in so many ways and always have been so I’m a grateful girl of 100. MM
Sweet Adversity will screen in Palm Springs October 14, 2017, courtesy of Zelda Can Dance Productions.
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