Angela Lansbury's Most Outstanding Performances Captured On Video

Oct 12, 2022

Hollywood has seen the rise of many truly iconic actors and actresses over the years. The most distinguished of them had careers that lasted several decades and usually either showcased a wide array of roles and talents or cemented each star's overwhelming talent in one particular genre.

One of these actresses was Angela Lansbury, a British-American actress who was known for her many theater, film and television roles. Her career in show business spanned nearly 80 years before she passed away on Oct. 11, 2022. Angela was considered one of the last remaining stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. 

The actress was best known for her roles in "The Manchurian Candidate," "Mame," "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," and "Murder, She Wrote." Angela also lent her voice to popular animation films such as "Beauty and the Beast" and "Anastasia."

She had been the recipient of many awards over her lengthy career, including an Honorary Academy Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BAFTA, as well as winning five Tony Awards, six Golden Globes, and an Olivier Award, among countless nominations.

A multi-talented performer, Angela is as recognizable for her melodic voice as she is for her beautiful face. Featuring in several beloved children's films, she soundtracked childhoods and reminded even the most begrudging of adults of the magic of theater. 

While her most memorable appearances on stage are undeniably countless, there are some musical moments that stand out. Each illustrates just how talented Angela was and how much her career was truly one of a kind. 

For the 1991 animated classic, "Beauty and the Beast," Angela played the maternal and jovial role of Ms. Potts. The teapot had been cursed along with the other residents of the Beast's castle. Before falling under the spell, she had been the cook. In this role, Angela added her voice to the now iconic soundtrack. She sang such Disney classics as "Be Our Guest," "Something There," as well as "Beauty and the Beast." The actress earned a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year for her work on "Beauty and the Beast." She was later featured in the 2001 rerelease of the album, which included the unreleased "Human Again." 

Another animated children's classic that featured Angela was 1971's "Bedknobs and Broomsticks." Albeit a lesser-known story, the film follows three kids who are sent to live with the mysterious Miss Price. Played by Angela, the woman is discovered to be a witch. The movie includes delightful animation that mixes with live action, similar to "Mary Poppins" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" Again, Angela lent her voice to the production, singing several songs on the soundtrack. This included "The Age of Not Believing," "Don't Let Me Down," "The Beautiful Briny," and" A Step in the Right Direction." She also featured on "Substitutiary Locomotion" alongside David Tomlinson, Ian Weighill, Cindy O'Callaghan, and Roy Snart. "The Age of Not Believing" received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The soundtrack was rereleased in 2002, and a staged musical adaptation premiered in the United Kingdom in 2021.

For her 1974 portrayal of Rose in "Gypsy," Angela earned her third Tony Award. The show, which was directed by Arthur Laurents, opened in London. After immediate success, it traveled to America for a multi-week tour. Angela then found herself playing Broadway's Winter Garden, with the play having truly become an overnight sensation. Speaking to Playbill about "Gypsy," Angela said of her character, "Rose is an extraordinary woman, and the thing is she really, really wanted everything for herself." She continued, touching on the heart of the song "Rose's Turn," saying, "That's the thing about Rose. She brought her girls up, and they were really fulfilling everything that she would have wanted to do in her life."

She then spoke about how she created her own unique Rose, saying, "We all bring slices of ourselves to Rose. What I brought was my total understanding of the character as a character actress, which I think perhaps I was more so than any of the other ladies who've played it. For me, she was a whole character, that's what I brought, my understanding of this human."

In addition to having such a stellar career, Angela also had a rich personal life off-stage. In 1949, she married the love of her life, Peter Shaw, and the couple had two children. Their son Anthony and daughter Deirdre grew up in America but moved to Ireland. Before the icon's passing, the Lansbury family had led a very happy life. 

She will surely be missed by those that saw her on stage, on screen, or anywhere she bestowed her many talents. 

What's your favorite song she sang? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, as well as any fans of Angela Lansbury!