Still purr-fect after all these years
The original Catwoman talks about exercise, needlepoint and being sensuous at 79.
Jon Bream, Star Tribune
January 21, 2006

" Batman's" first Catwoman has been called the world's most enduring sex kitten and the ultimate entertainer.

Orson Welles called Eartha Kitt "the most exciting woman alive" in the 1950s. Many think she still is.

We caught up with the ageless singer/actress by phone as she was celebrating her 79th birthday last week. Her first performances in 2006 will be Friday and Saturday singing with the Minnesota Orchestra at Orchestra Hall.

Q What is "sexy" to you?
A I have no idea. It's such an overused word. I don't think of myself as being sex-EE or whatever. I have been considered sensuous. That's something you're born with. There's nothing you can do about that. You can put on the decolletage dress and show the bosoms and bleh, bleh, bleh; they call that sexy. I don't try to be sexy. I do have the legs showing. It's fun to be teasing.

Q Catwoman is probably your best known role and others have played the part after you. Besides you, who is your favorite Catwoman?
A I can tell you the truth: I have not seen them. And I'm very glad I've not seen them because then I don't have an opinion about that.

Q People always marvel at what great shape you're in. What is your workout regimen?
A It's mainly walking and stretching with these rubber bands and being sure the hamstrings are not tight. I think the body working against the body muscles is much better often than the body working out with machines. I did take up boxing because that is one of the ways to give you fast exercise to be stronger. Shadow boxing. I was hitting the punching bag. I'm not doing that now; I quit a couple of weeks ago. My hands started to ache. I do needlepoint so I didn't want to be in pain when I'm doing a project. And eating the kinds of foods that will give me strength and energy rather than making me feel lethargic. So I don't eat a lot of carbohydrates and I try to stay away completely from processed food.

Q Speaking of needlepoint, you used to be a judge on Craft Corner Deathmatch on the Style Network. What crafts are you into?
A All the furniture and pillows and rugs in my house are needlepoint that I've done myself. I've been doing needlepoint for 25 or 30 years. I got tired of being in my dressing room and not having anything to do. Therefore I like to see where my time has gone. So I started doing needlepoint.

Q I heard you recently did a photo shoot for Essence magazine with Ruby Dee and Diahann Carroll where you were having tea together. What did you three talk about?
A How many of the same men we've had -- but not at the same time.

Q What motivates you at this point of your life?
A Keep working. I never want to be without work. And the desire to be able to continue.

Q What was this about you working with 50 Cent?
A 50 Cent called us. He wanted to get the rights to my life [for a movie]. But I'm not working with him.

Q Orson Welles had that famous quote about you being the most exciting woman alive. Who do you think is the most exciting woman alive now?
A You are putting me in a position that I have no answer for. As far as an entertainer, everybody is so much alike. Perhaps young people are looking for us who have been around a long time because we didn't copy anybody. We maintain our own honesty. I was always told 'You're different. You don't fit in. We don't know how to sell you.' Those who stuck to our own guns, that's why we're still here. I can say: You can't recycle me; I'm not recyclable.

Q In Minneapolis, you'll be performing with an orchestra. How does that compare to doing your cabaret act?
A The feeling is different and some of the songs may be the same. But to be working with a big orchestra like that is extremely exciting. It gives me a feeling of -- I was going to use the word 'security' but there's no such thing. (She laughs.) Because half the time you're crying if you're reaching the right notes or not.

Q Since you're approaching 80, I have to ask the cliché question: How do you want to be remembered?
A I never thought about how I wanted to be remembered. That I made footprints for others to follow. And I stand by what I say. I'm a truthful person, an honest person.