Here are some quotes by Trini about several things or by other persons about Trini.

"...Trini Alvarado, the runaway starlet of Times Square who was poised to become the Winona Ryder of the '80s -- that is, if the world had been ready for a Winona Ryder back then." 1 Very well put indeed!

"I imagine it would be a pretty scary thing to start acting right now, at my age, and have no idea of the expectation. There is that 'beautiful things, beautiful places, beautiful faces' media thing." 2 Trini about the unbearable lightness of acting...

"I guess it's the hair. It's amazing but even up close people are mistaken. I tell them I'm Andie's younger sister Sandy. I say we have sisters named Mandy and Candy and that we're the female version of the Baldwin brothers." 3 Trini about the alleged similarity of looks with Andie MacDowell.

"But it's an awe-inspiring contribution from Trini Alvarado that really brings out the maturing best in [Michael] Palin, both as writer and actor..." Praise on Trini's performance in American Friends from the holy "Monty Python Encyclopedia".

"There was a lot of estrogen energy on the set." 4 Trini's one-liner about the atmosphere during the filming of Little Women.

"Trini has such warmth and love about her and was the perfect counterpoint to the self-obsessed and self-absorbed younger sister, Amy, played by Kirsten Dunst." 5 Little Women director Gillian Armstrong about Trini.

"It's so obvious why women were thought of as the weaker sex. I don't know if it was a subconscious desire of designers to hold women back, but you can't even take a full breath." 6 Trini about the uncomfortable 19th century women's clothing of Little Women.

"The weight thing is hard for any actress these days. The '50s were great because people could have more normal bodies. It's frightening now and I hope it changes because it's just really nuts for little girls to worry about being fat. I just wish a little flesh were more welcome." 2 Trini about the issue of 'ideal body'.

"Out of this corset." 6 Trini's answer when clad for filming Little Women and asked where she sees herself in next five years.

"Trini Alvarado wears the role of Meg, the oldest daughter, like a fine gown of silk and lace. [...] Alvarado underplays like Garbo, bringing it down a notch or two so that she simply steals moment after moment." 7 Words of appreciation on her performance in Little Women.

"No, I don't look in the mirror every morning and expect to see that twinkle on my teeth. That's kind of Stepford. I'm much more likely to notice that I'm getting a zit." 2 Trini about the morning view in the bathroom mirror.

"I really wanted to work with Mira and I thought it would be fun to play a Cuban-American. My mother's from Puerto Rico and my father's from Spain. I feel in tune with the Caribbean." 8 Trini about the reasons to play in The Perez Family.

"Mira is no-nonsense and very willing to work things out with you. She's very direct with what she wants and that's nice instead of wondering what it could be she wants. I liked that about her." 8 Trini about The Perez Family director Mira Nair.

"And Teresa's a cool chick." 8 Trini's to-the-point assessment of 'Teresa Perez', her character in The Perez Family.

"I really enjoyed being a woman who gets to throw a punch. Lucy's not passive -- she goes for it." 9 Trini about her role as 'Lucy Lynskey' in The Frighteners.

"Trini was involved in some very intense and physical sequences and she was quite proud of showing me her bruises from the previous day's work." 9 The Frighteners director Peter Jackson on Trini's 'work accidents'.

"You buy ghost books and tax-deduct them, I guess, is what you do!" 10 Trini about feasible actor preparation prior to the filming of The Frighteners.

"I want desperately to see a ghost but I don't want to be alone when I do. I'm not that brave." 3 Trini's 'problem'...

© e t dankwa 22 January 1999