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Interviewing

Angela

By Donald-Brian Johnson

How TV fans will always remember her: Angela Lansbury as “Jessica Fletcher.” The hit series Murder, She Wrote
ran for 12 seasons, and earned Angela 12 Emmy nominations (although she never won!).

In 1945’s National Velvet, Lansbury played the older sister
of “Velvet,” Elizabeth Taylor.

Angela’s first screen appearance, As a sultry saloon girl, Angela
and her first Oscar nomination was Judy Garland’s nemesis
(at the age of 19!) Gaslight, 1944. in The Harvey Girls, 1946.

n 1984, on her way to the West Coast to a clown, and a comedienne. When I was
begin filming the first season of the soon-to- about 13 years old, my mother decided the
Ibe-a-hit TV show “Murder, She Wrote,” stage was going to be for me; she encouraged
Angela Lansbury (1925-2022) stopped off in me and helped me to get started with my
Omaha, Nebraska. It was a private visit, to meet training. When I came to New York, as an
her son’s new in-laws. As luck would have it, evacuee during World War II, I was fortunate
those in-laws owned the radio station where I to get a scholarship to a very good school in
was working. Even though she was on vacation, New York City. I was close to New York
Angela agreed to do an interview. The lucky theatre and also close to movies. From New
reporter assigned to the task: me! York, I went to Los Angeles, and couldn’t get
Angela entered the studio radiating the same a job, couldn’t get arrested, but I was able to
blend of vitality and intelligence her many fans get myself into a studio and I was auditioned
(like me) associated with her. And, she quickly for two roles. One was ‘Nancy,’ the maid in
put a very nervous young reporter at ease. When Gaslight, and the other was ‘Sybil Vane’ in
I began the interview by addressing her as “Miss The Picture of Dorian Gray. I was cast in both,
Lansbury,” she responded, “Please—call me but Gaslight came first, and the part of
Angela.” I did, and our interview began: ‘Nancy’ was my ‘big break.’”

DBJ: “Angela, I’m particularly interested in DBJ: “Audiences know you for your roles in
learning about the start of your performing musicals, and yet in that first movie,
career. What was your first ‘great opportunity?’” Gaslight, you sang too, didn’t you? People
seem to forget that.”
AL: “Well, in the first place, I came from a
theatrical family. My mother was an actress, AL: “Yes, they do. Even in those earlier days,
and therefore acting was something second Angela costarred in an unintentionally campy look I was singing songs like ‘Up In A Balloon,
nature in our family. As a youngster, I think I at Biblical times: 1949’s Samson and Delilah, Boys,’ and just sort of hopping and skipping
exhibited a lot of signs of being a mimic, and helmed by Cecil B. DeMille. around. That was the beginning of my taste

34 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles