AT 83, BACALL STILL FOCUSES ON HER NEXT JOB, NOT PAST GLORY.

Byline: GREG HERNANDEZ

Lauren Bacall is more interested in being a busy working actress than a screen legend. So when I caught up with her at the Women in Hollywood Tribute Monday night (she was one of the honorees), she was talking about future jobs more than past roles in a career that began with 1944's "To Have and Have Not" opposite future husband Humphrey Bogart.

"I'm unemployed at the moment," says the 83-year-old actress, nominated for her first Oscar a decade ago for "The Mirror Has Two Faces." In recent years, she's had roles in "Dogville," "Birth" and "The Walker," to be released in December.

"I'm not like anyone. My career has not been a smooth career. It's been very up and down in movies."

Yes, even after 60 years in movies, Bacall still worries about getting her next job. But she's never been one to sit around. When the movie offers dried up, she's gone to Broadway and along the way, won two Tony Awards for the musicals "Applause" and "Woman of the Year."

"I had a great 20-year period on the stage; I love the theater, that was my first love, and I keep going. I've written three books and I just keep going ... until they catch me."

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) 2004 'Birth'

(2) 1940s publicity shot

(3 -- color) 2006 'Manderlay'

(4 -- color) 2007 'The Walker'

(5) 1944 'To Have and Have Not'