"The average Hollywood film star's ambition is to be admired by an American, courted by an Italian, married to an Englishman and have a French boyfriend"

Katharine Hepburn’s observation is a witty, cosmopolitan commentary on both cultural stereotypes and the desires underlying the glamorous facade of Hollywood. By ascribing distinct roles to men of different nationalities, admiration from an American, courtship from an Italian, marriage to an Englishman, and romance with a Frenchman, she highlights both the global allure of the film industry and the way its denizens chase a multiplicity of ideals that are, by nature, difficult to reconcile.

Americans, in this vision, represent admiration, perhaps for their straightforward enthusiasm and capacity for idolization. Hollywood itself is an American institution; to be admired by an American is to be recognized within the dominant cultural paradigm, affirming both popularity and status. Italians, renowned for their romantic flair and expressive personalities, are assigned the role of the ardent suitor, a nod to the seductive charm for which Italian lovers are often praised. The Englishman, often seen as stable, proper, and unwaveringly polite, is chosen as the desired spouse, reflecting an ideal of tradition, security, and enduring support, perhaps evoking the fantasy of marrying into European aristocracy or an old-world sense of dignity.

The French, finally, are the symbol of passionate, sophisticated love affairs, chic, mysterious, and perhaps clandestine. To have a French boyfriend is to indulge in pleasure for its own sake, to experience romance untethered by social convention or obligation.

Hepburn’s humor underscores the contradictory nature of fame and personal desire. The stars, despite their privilege and freedom, are depicted as wanting it all: recognition, excitement, stability, and adventure, with each wish personified by national archetypes. Ultimately, her quip satirizes the unattainable pursuit of perfect fulfillment, noting that for those who seemingly have everything, the heart’s whims are as varied and insatiable as the world itself.