"Shirley MacLaine said, You're so funny, then gave me a hug. Everything went white. I couldn't hear, I couldn't see. I thought I was going to pass out"
About this Quote
The intent feels disarmingly unglamorous. Kudrow isn't polishing an origin myth about confidence or destiny; she's confessing to a kind of fan panic that most people associate with teenagers, not working actors. That mismatch is the point. In an industry built on poise, her honesty reads as quiet rebellion. She lets us see the unspoken hierarchy: even successful performers carry an internal scoreboard, and approval from an elder icon can still feel like being "chosen."
Subtextually, the hug is doing narrative work. MacLaine's "You're so funny" is a credential, but the embrace is the benediction - a moment of belonging, not just praise. Kudrow's sensory blackout signals how rare that can feel in Hollywood, where admiration is often transactional and affection often performative. Here, the body betrays the truth: validation doesn't always uplift; sometimes it destabilizes, because it forces you to suddenly believe yourself.
Quote Details
| Topic | Excitement |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Kudrow, Lisa. (2026, January 15). Shirley MacLaine said, You're so funny, then gave me a hug. Everything went white. I couldn't hear, I couldn't see. I thought I was going to pass out. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine-said-youre-so-funny-then-gave-me-153764/
Chicago Style
Kudrow, Lisa. "Shirley MacLaine said, You're so funny, then gave me a hug. Everything went white. I couldn't hear, I couldn't see. I thought I was going to pass out." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine-said-youre-so-funny-then-gave-me-153764/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Shirley MacLaine said, You're so funny, then gave me a hug. Everything went white. I couldn't hear, I couldn't see. I thought I was going to pass out." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine-said-youre-so-funny-then-gave-me-153764/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.



