Angela Lansbury (87) is an incredibly accomplished actress, with a career spanning over 70 years. She is one of Broadway's greatest legends winning 5 Tony Awards throughout her career in Shows like 'Mame' (1966) and 'Sweeney Todd' (1979) and of course a Television institution for her 12 season run as Jessica Fletcher on 'Murder She Wrote' (1984-1996).
But this November she is being Honored for a whole other part of her career: films. She will be one of the recipients of this years Honorary Oscar. Many people may not realize Lansbury had a film career: aside from her Disney triumphs in 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks' (1971) and as the voice of Mrs. Potts in 'Beauty and the Beast'. She has appeared very rarely in films over the last 29 years, so that is understandable.
But her importance in film history is not one to overlook, she was quickly nominated for two back to back Oscars at the beginning of her career for 'Gaslight' (1944) her film debut, and 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' (1945) her third film. Though she never became a great movie stars the likes of Davis or Hepburn, she was respected as a sought after Character Actress. Her greatest film triumph is 1962's 'The Manchurian Candidate' where she played the manipulative mother from hell to great critical attention and a third Oscar nomination.
Her greatest successes have no doubt been on the stage, and her greatest fame on Television, so some may find it odd her being a recipient of a lifetime achievement award for films, and maybe it is
But Lansbury has certainly been able to remain relevant in some field of the entertainment business for the past 70 years! and that in itself is an accomplishment
I am sure the Honorary Oscar will come even as a shock to Angie herself since she has often said her film career in a whole was nothing to write home about, but she has made an impression there none the less, I will be very excited to see her receive the award and hear her speech as i know it will be as gracious, classy and Humbly as the lady herself, congrats to Miss Angela Lansbury! Now let's work on that Emmy! :D
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