“The First Lady of the American Theatre”

Tyne Daly shown here with brother Tim

The 2012 Nominations for the 28th Helen Hayes Awards were announced at The National Theatre in the Helen Hayes Gallery. 

Perhaps the greatest actress in the history of the American stage was Helen Hayes who started her career at age nine.

The Helen Hayes Awards were established in her honor in 1983 and remain a living legacy to the First Lady of the American Theatre.  One of the country’s most prestigious cultural honors, the awards recognize and celebrate "artistic achievement, and bring significant local, national, and international recognition to the remarkable artistry on Washington area stages."

This year the nominees are:

Two years ago, Tony award winning actress Tyne Daly - who knew Ms. Hayes through her father - gave us an interesting take on her private personality at The Four Seasons.  It's a fascinating look into into Helen Hayes:  She didn't want to be First Lady of the Theater.

"I think she was very graceful about it, but don't think it was sort of what she dreamt of, to be an icon," Daly said. 

Watch the interview: (caution though it rolls into another unrelated interview since an old link)