THUMBS DOWN ON DIETING

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 5

THUMBS DOWN ON DIETING

Envy of most of feminine Hollywood is Mary Astor for the perfectly casual attitude she maintains toward the “ figure ” question. For Mary, somehow or other, has hit upon a magic formula which permits her to maintain exactly the proper weight and proportions for her career in pictures. Of all the lovely ladies in Cinemaland she alone has never found it necessary to go on strin-

gent slimming diets and to count calorics as if nothing else in'life mattered. What’s the secret ? Mary herself isn’t sure. But the titiau-haired beauty, now playing a featured role in Hal Roach’s production of ‘Turnabout,’ with Carole Landis and John Hubbard, believes that it is just a fortunate combination of circumstances responsible for her good luck. The actress is five feet five inches tall and weighs exactly eight stone four pounds. “ I’ve always eaten as I wish,” she declares. “ However, I’ve never been very fond of sweets, nor have I ever had a tendency to eat more than at meal times. 1 sleep until I fee] rested. I eat freely if I’m hungry. But I never go in for food fadisrn. In fact, diet is simply a word in the dictionary as far as I’m concerned.”

Possibly, however, Miss Aster’s inclination for exercise is the reason for her shapely figure. An ardent horsewoman, she rides every day for at least an hour and swims a great deal, and her natural vivacity and enthusiasm for everything she does seem to provide her with the tonic which guarantees good health and trim proportions.