Interview: Karolyn ‘Zuzu’ Grimes on Jimmy Stewart and ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’
In Maker’s Dozen, we ask folks in and around the film industry 12 questions and have them ask one of us.
Karolyn Grimes is an actress who appeared in The Bishop’s Wife (1947) and Rio Bravo (1950), but remains best known for her role as Zuzu Bailey in the classic 1946 Frank Capra film It’s a Wonderful Life (one of our favorite Christmas movies).
We spoke with Karolyn about It’s A Wonderful Life—its unique memorabilia and most underappreciated character, her memories of Jimmy Stewart, and the fan stories that stick with her—along with her favorite Christmas movies (probably not what you’d think!) and the moment in her life she’d love to revisit.
1. What is the Karolyn Grimes origin story?
Well, I was 4 years old, an only child, and lived in Hollywood, which was pretty much all the movie industry. My mother was a stage mom, so she gave me every single lesson you could ever possibly have: singing, dancing, all kinds of dialects and drama, everything you could think of. I started piano when I was 5, violin when I was 3. It was just crazy. Then she took me to see an agent who represented most of the child actors in Hollywood at that time. She had a huge stable. She liked me and sent me on some interviews. I got some parts and Bingo, I was in. Four years old.
2. Describe your perfect day.
Get up, walk outside for a little bit, pet my cats, have some breakfast, and just sit down and read a book. I love reading. It’s one of my biggest hobbies.
3. Zuzu Bailey is one of the most beloved characters from one of the most beloved films. Has that always been a source of pride for you, or has your relationship to the character changed over the years?
I never even thought about it because I never saw the movie until I was 40. When I first sat down and watched it, I realized it was something I wanted to take into my heart and make part of my life. I went on the road in 1993 when Target decided to reunite the Bailey kids. They sent us all over the United States. When people came through the line for autographs, the stories they told me about how this movie had affected their lives and made such a difference for them… I decided then that was what I was going to do the rest of my life—to be a part of It’s A Wonderful Life and spread the message from that film to as many people as I can. But I do have a great regret that I never found that magic in time for me to make watching this film every Christmas a holiday tradition with my own children.
4. People tell you all the time what It’s A Wonderful Life means to them. Is there a particular story that stands out?
I’ve had a lot of people tell me they were on the bridge. And they watched the film and it changed their life. They realized they did make a difference and that their lives mattered, and they could help other people. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what makes you feel good is when you do something kind for someone else. It’s just a lovely process that keeps generating, and you feel better about yourself more and more. We get so caught up in all the things for today that we forget about what really is important in life, and that’s faith, family, and friends. I just don’t think that ever changes.
5. Which It’s A Wonderful Life character is most underappreciated?
I’ve never been asked that question, that’s a good one! I would think probably Mary. Mary was the foundation of George. She was the foundation of the family. She was the foundation of so many things in that community. And I think the movie kind of overlooks that in some ways. It says she went on to help with the war and do all these things, but in the end she really was the wind behind George. She made a difference in his life, and I think she made a difference in the whole movie.
6. What’s the strangest or most unique piece of It’s A Wonderful Life-related memorabilia you’ve seen?
At one time I had a collection of Italian lobby cards. They were absolutely beautiful. I was in New York just to have some fun and one of the people I was visiting took me to a movie poster store, and I saw these and I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never seen them or heard about them since. But they’re wonderful and they talk about the bellissimo, the wonderful It’s A Wonderful Life. They’re really charming and I’m so pleased I found them. I think they’re one of a kind.
“I never saw the movie until I was 40. When I first sat down and watched it, I realized it was something I wanted to take into my heart and make part of my life.”
7. Which scenes or moments in It’s A Wonderful Life have resonated with you at different points of your life?
Well, I’ve never been on the bridge, but I’ve sure gone through a lot of stuff, and George Bailey went through a lot of stuff, through the emotional rollercoaster of life. I lost a couple of husbands, I lost my parents early in life. Death was a big thing for me, and I think that changes your life when you have someone close to you get their wings, so to speak. Going through that, you have a choice: you can either grow or you can die on the vine. Which one do you want to choose to do? Of course meeting the challenges is more of a challenge than just letting go and forgetting about it. But I truly believe that It’s A Wonderful Life is a being that people can lock onto and use as a map or guidelight through life.
8. What is one standout behind-the-scenes memory you have of Jimmy Stewart?
Looking back, he made an effort to build a little bit of chemistry between us. I didn’t notice it at the time, but he would come around and walk with me for a little while and just talk about Christmas and angels. I think that was a really good move because he built the chemistry there for the petals scene, and that lasted throughout the movie. I was always in his arms, and I’m sure Capra wanted it that way.
9. If you could go back and tell 4-year-old Karolyn one thing, what would it be?
I would tell her to do it just like she did. Never get full of herself. My parents made it a point for me not to know that I was with stars. It was so much a part of my life to go to interviews and to be on a set for a few days, and then go back home. I just thought it was life. I didn’t know any different.
“I’ve had a lot of people tell me they were on the bridge. And they watched the film and it changed their life.”
10. Aside from It’s A Wonderful Life, what is your favorite Christmas movie?
I have two: Bad Santa and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I didn’t like Bad Santa 2, but I thought Bad Santa was great.
11. If you could relive one moment in your life, what would it be?
That’s difficult, but I think it would probably be when I was with my parents as a child. Because I was taken away from them so young, I don’t have anything I can really grasp onto. It would be nice to have a little talk with my parents one more time.
12. What is one thing you are deeply grateful for right now?
The fact that I got to be Zuzu. My gosh, what a gift from the universe. I mean, I have a fan base. I have friends all over the world. And it’s all because of the movie. It’s not me, it’s not Zuzu, it’s the film. What a gift I’ve been given to have that because it keeps on giving. I’m going to celebrate my 20th year at the Seneca Falls Festival that I started. Twenty years ago I went to this little town and I fell in love with it, and I felt that it could have been the town that Frank Capra got his ideas from. And he was there, because I talked to a barber who cut his hair when he was there. His name was Tony Bellissimo. I said, “How do you know it was him?” He said, “Well, my name is Tony Bellissimo, which in Italian means beautiful. Capra in Italian means goat, and I always remember cutting the goat’s hair.”
+1. What’s your question for us?
Are you guys outdoor people?
More or less yeah. Is it because of our flannel shirts? [laughter] We live in the suburbs of Chicago, so no mountains around here unfortunately, but lots of parks and forest preserves. We definitely try to get out as much as we can, especially with young kids.