After "Barretts" closed, Cornell played leading parts in two plays, "Lucrece" and "Alien Corn". A considerable portion of her role in "Lucrece" was played in pantomime. Her success in "Lucrece" landed her on the cover of "Time" on December 26, 1932. In the article, she is quoted as saying, "To act, you have to burst out spontaneously and feel constantly and deeply. So if you're too accustomed to using your head instead of your feelings you won't be able to call on your feelings when you want them. I tell young women not to come on the stage, unless there is nothing else they can be happy in."