Ethel Ross was one of Patty Duke's managers. When Patty's mother took her daughter to Ethel Ross, the Rosses made it seem they were taking on the young girl out of pity. However, the Rosses had a good eye for what production managers were looking for. Ethel Ross packaged Patty Duke, changing her hair, her dress, even her age and her name. Ethel pushed Patty to work hard, to put her whole spirit into each role. This push made Patty Duke the brilliant actress she would quickly become. However, Ethel's refusal to allow Patty to be a normal child in her free moments left Patty unable to survive as an adult in a world she did not understand.