Marlo Thomas was a girl who just wanted her privacy
Being the daughter of a famous celebrity like Danny Thomas was no easy feat. From the press to the photos and constant attention, Marlo Thomas battled against the press in order to protect her privacy.
Besides being related to comedy legend Danny Thomas, Marlo Thomas became best known for her role as Ann Marie in the 1966 series That Girl. This role catapulted her to new heights of fame, making her a household name.
The series was groundbreaking for its portrayal of an independent woman and reflected the shifting social dynamics between men and women in the 1960s.
However, with new fame came new attention — and a lot of it! Although growing up around a famous celebrity prepared Marlo for the challenges of her acting career, she took extra precautions to protect her privacy.
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According to a 1971 interview with The Patriot-News, Thomas said she lived in a well-guarded, English-style home.
"We don't let any press in," Thomas said.
At times, when she agreed to do interviews from her home, interviewers had to swear not to disclose its location, attributes, or anything about her whereabouts. She valued her peace and quiet offstage; it was her escape, and she wanted it to remain that way.
However, according to the interview, it wasn't just the location of her home that Thomas kept private; it was most of her life outside of acting.
For example, when the journalist asked Thomas: "Are you going to get married?" she replied, "You know I'm not going to answer that kind of question. I guard my privacy."
At the time of this interview, Thomas was wrapping up the fifth and final season of That Girl. She had hopes of becoming a movie star after starring in the TV series, which, in hindsight, maybe wasn't the best type of attention for someone who valued her privacy so much.
"It's hard to say 'I love you' to 300 people, but I did," Thomas said. "I never saw my family as much as I saw those people — 14 hours a day, 10 months a year, 50 months altogether."
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