Judy Garland: An Interview from The Afterlife, with Phil G
Author: Phil G
Author: Phil G
Phil G shares a 'conversation' he had with Judy Garland from the afterlife.
Full text available from
Phil G's Famous Spirits page. (Phil's words or thoughts are in brackets).
Prologue: I share as I get things, regardless of it I know them, or if they are correct. My experience has taught me that even apparent incorrect detail later turn out to be verified by family, so I never worry about checking detail:
(.. You were before my time, but I think it was a nice thing that Peter did writing that song for you. [Quiet Please, There's a Lady On Stage] That must have been terrible being booed off stage?)
"Shattering after you've been so successful, so adored, for so long, as long as you can remember. As a young child, ...
(You were a teenager in your first film, weren't you?)
When you're older, you think of that as being a child. And to have people do that, that's devastating.
(Did you ever perform after that?)
I went to things, and I appeared at places, but I never put on a full performance, I just did a few rare performances that were very tight and couched amongst other people . Never a full performance again.
(What was your happiest time?)
People think it's the Wizard of Oz, and it was a delightful time, but it wasn't so delightful to make. All the magic of Hollywood whether it be today or yesterday, still it's quite a bit of work, and not quite as much fun as everybody thinks it is. I enjoyed making it but it wasn't my most enjoyable experience.
(So what was?)
I enjoyed performing on the stage better.
(Did you do a lot of stage performances?)
Yes. Yes, I did quite a few stage performances. That's why I was so upset later on, because I did, like a comeback I suppose, but it wasn't really a comeback to me, just seeing if.... I don't know if people realise this, but I wasn't doing that because I needed to do it, I did that to be nice. I just thought it would be a nice thing to do, to put on a show... to do some of the things I had done in the past, and it would be nice. But they expected more than I could do.
(Didn't you have a hard time with alcohol or something?)
Yes. And to some extent I passed some of that trait to Liza, and she dealt with it very well, but there are times it gets away from her, but she's maintained her character, and done well.
(I saw her perform on the Australian idol show, she did a remarkable performance. She actually got a standing ovation, and I don't think they were just being nice. I think everyone thought she did a fantastic job.)
Yes she did and that was nice, and perhaps in a way, that was the applause I was hoping for. You know, I kind of think she did it for me. I know she worked at it and thought about it, she was determined to do it well, and she wasn't doing it for her. Oh no. She wasn't doing it for herself. She wasn't even doing it for all the people she was trying to help and coach on the show. Yes she likes to be an inspiration and yes she likes to help people and she's passionate about it, but she was doing that for me. I appreciate it so much Liz.
(You said Liz, not Liza.)
Yes, I used to call her Liz.......
When you're known for singing in shows, or you're frivolous, you're never taken seriously. Marilyn, she was never really taken seriously, and apart from all the sex appeal, she really wanted to be taken a bit more seriously. She created her own dilemma. But when you sing, think about all the people who sing in theatre and shows, they aren't taken as a serious actor. Even though people enjoy it, go to it, like it, Elvis, and lots of others, someone who can act, but sings in a show, you don't take them seriously......
(So what of the childhood situation? Lots of child stars don't translate to adult stars.)
Well it's the same problem, dear. Same problem. You grow up. Someone who is known in a certain way, a certain theme, expression, their youthfulness, and you grow up and people want to see the person as they were. If you could keep a child star young, it would be wonderful!
(The person who plays Harry Potter, seems to be making the transition.)
Yes. He is, but he is struggling to be accepted as an adult actor, playing more serious roles, and he will continue to struggle. It will take him a while. He's very determined, and he enjoys his craft, and he doesn't take it too seriously, so mentally he'll be okay with it, but it will take him a while.
See Johnny Depp is one who, well, he was a teenager, but he was basically a child star who struggled to be taken seriously in any other role. It was cleaver what he did. He turned his back on Hollywood, and did small projects, and it was the small things that were serious, not big projects, not overly successful, but what it did, the people who could, the producers, they could watch his work. See he was good. He could do it. They could see that.
See I did a lot of stage work in order to become established as an adult star. The boy who plays Harry Potter he was right to do that small budget Australian film. If I could offer a piece of advice for him, if he's trying to play different roles, I think he needs to fill out the way he acts. So by that, I mean, he tended to play in that Australian film a similar person to what he was playing in Harry potter. He needs to follow more like Johnny Depp, like, he dressed as scissors, and although it was ridiculous, what it allowed him to do was become something completely different. So whenever you're typecast, you need to do things that are completely different.
(Were you happy with your life?)
I had a good life. It was interesting. I did a lot of things. Met a lot of important people, but to be honest. It doesn't matter. Still. Do you know when it all boils down to it, the best thing I ever did was raise Liza. I wasn't there enough for her. But I did show her by example what it took to be successful, the character of it. Don't look at my personal failings. You can still have personal failings and pass on to your children good character traits and examples to your children.
You can have a weakness, and yet pass on the strength of that weakness to your children.
If you can't do that, you can share that with your child and develop it so they can see to be better at that.
I am pleased with how Liza turned out and I'm sorry I wasn't there enough for her. She's done well. And it's lovely to see how she helps people. She helps others far more than what you see. She's always helping people. And a lot of what she does to help people is just to be there to listen, to talk. She's doing well...
Learn how to recognise and verify the signs of spirit contact from YOUR family and friends in the afterlife:
philg.net.auAbout the Author:
Medium Phil G shares information on how ordinary people can contact family in the Afterlife themselves, and verify it. (see philg.net.au). He also provides 'conversation'-style messages from the Afterlife. From time to time, famous spirits share information with him, to share as appropriate to spread the wonderful message: Family who have passed away are still with you.
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