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Short Takes : Auto Racing Drove Newman Away From Politics, Woodward Says

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From Times Staff and Wire reports

Joanne Woodward says her superstar husband, Paul Newman, once toyed with the idea of running for political office but the roar of a race car got in the way.

“He could have been a serious candidate. But then he got involved in racing,” Woodward said in an interview with the couple in the January issue of McCall’s magazine. Looking at Newman, she added: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste on a Trans Am motor.”

Woodward and Newman have acted together in nine films from “The Long Hot Summer” in 1958 to the newly released “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge.”

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Asked if their acting style has changed in 32 years between the films, Woodward replied:

“Oh yes. In the beginning, we played off of each other purely by lust.”

Newman added: “Joanne gives great smolder.”

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