10/12/2022
This woman has always been my model for keep on rolling!
Angela Lansbury, whose acclaimed and prolific acting career in theater, television, and film spanned seven decades, died today at the age of 96. Lansbury was especially well-known for her film roles in “Gaslight” and “The Manchurian Candidate”, her television role as Jessica Fletcher on the long-running detective series “Murder She Wrote,” and for her voice work as Mrs. Potts in the Disney animated classic “Beauty and the Beast," for which she sang the Academy Award-winning title song. Even as a nonagenarian, Lansbury continued to apply her widely acclaimed talents in new roles; appearing as the Balloon Lady in the 2018 film “Mary Poppins Returns.”
Born in London in 1925, Lansbury moved with her family to the US in 1940 to avoid the Blitz during WWII. She had already discovered a talent for music and theater, and, in 1944, she received her first film role in "Gaslight." She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar and MGM signed her to a 7-year contract, which she later remembered with astonishment: “Isn’t that ridiculous? I mean, at the age of 18!” For many, she is best known for her role playing Jessica Fletcher, the fictional writer and sleuth star of "Murder, She Wrote," which ran for twelve seasons. In 2014, Lansbury was made a Dame of the British Empire for “services to drama, charitable work, and philanthropy.” To Lansbury, however, her work was a reward in itself: “I honestly consider that the greatest gift to me, is the reaction that I get from my work... To be given that by audiences, individuals, on the street, in the theater, is an extraordinary feeling.”
For an insightful look at Angela Lansbury's life and legacy, there's a new biography by her brother Edgar: "The Magic of Believing: A Lansbury Family Memoir" at https://amzn.to/3SXS3e0
Fans of Lansbury's beloved series "Murder She Wrote" can find a DVD box set of all 12 seasons at https://amzn.to/2YVKUnd
There is also a long-running book adaption of "Murder, She Wrote" mystery novels at https://amgrl.co/3FRZ0ao -- including the upcoming new release "Murder, She Wrote: Death on the Emerald Isle" at https://amzn.to/3fZoAls
For kids who want to try making their own movie, we highly recommend the "LEGO Make Your Own Movie Kit" for ages 8 and up at https://amzn.to/3PpvwVa
And to inspire children and teens with more stories of pioneering women in the arts, sciences, and other fields, visit our "Role Models" biography section at https://www.amightygirl.com/books/history-biography/biography
