Angela Lansbury Has Always Been A Striking Woman: Photographs Of Her From When She Was Young

Dec 30, 2021 by apost team

Angela Lansbury has been a pinnacle figure in the film, television and theater industries for almost eight decades. The legendary Dame first appeared on the scene in 1944. A mere 17 years old, she immediately made a striking impression playing a flirtatious maid in “Gaslight,” a classic psychological thriller. More than 75 years and countless triumphs later, she is universally regarded as an icon and an actress of incredible strength and diversity.

Throughout her life, Lansbury has made her way into the hearts and minds of many fans, critics, and loved ones. Her professionalism and dedication toward her craft have made her a favorite among many, and her strong yet polite personality has helped her keep stable relationships in both her personal and professional environments.

Some of her most notable roles include her time on screen in the film “Blue Hawaii,” the television series “Murder, She Wrote,” and her role as Mrs. Potts in the Disney animated film “Beauty and the Beast” and its follow-up movies and projects. Her claim to fame came from portraying various motherly characters, but Lansbury has also been able to show off more of her range and impressive skills throughout her career.

Today, Lansbury is 96 years old and continues to be one of Hollywood's most beloved actresses yet. Her time on screen has given budding actors inspiration and will be held in high regard for decades to come. Read on to find out more about Lansbury's career and personal life, and how she used to look when she was young. Spoiler alert: she was just as beautiful as she is today! 

Lansbury began her acting career at the young age of 17 when she went from working the cosmetic counter at a small department store to suddenly signing a contract with MGM Studios. MGM had been looking for young British actresses to fill their roster, and Lansbury fit the bill perfectly.

Shortly after signing with MGM, she took her first major role in the movie "Gaslight," starring alongside such Hollywood greats as Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. Astoundingly, this first landmark role garnered the then-rookie actress an Oscar Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and sent her career rocketing to the top seemingly overnight.

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Lansbury's first Oscar nod was followed very shortly thereafter by a second Oscar Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the film "The Picture of Dorian Gray." With two Oscar nominations under her belt, Lansbury went on to top-billing in multiple roles on both stage and screen throughout the many years to follow. She often found herself starring with such legends as Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, and on many occasions, her close friend Elizabeth Taylor.

As Lansbury's stardom continued to rise, she took the reins on numerous pictures that quickly became fan favorites. One such role in "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" became another one of Lansbury's most revered and recognized character creations for the Disney film that featured toe-tapping music and cutting-edge animation effects. And just as memorable was her voicing of the charming Mrs. Potts in "Beauty and the Beast" in 1991, allowing Lansbury to once again stretch her beautiful, signature singing voice for the delightful motherly character.

The tremendous actress has been appreciated by fans and critics alike, and some of her movies have also received an incredible amount of praise due to her participation in the films. In October 2020, Forbes reported that five of the films Lansbury has starred in have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. These films include “Gaslight” and “National Velvet” from 1944, “The Court Jester” from 1955, “The Manchurian Candidate” from 1962, and “Beauty and the Beast” from 1991.

While she is most notable for many of her starring roles, Lansbury has also graced the screen a bit more humble in a few guest appearances on multiple television series, including “The Man From UNCLE,” “The Trials of O’Brien,” “Touched By an Angel” and “Law & Order: SVU.”

Lansbury has occasionally mentioned in interviews that, although her career has been one for the ages, she has often regretted not spending more time with her closest loved ones. She is the mother of two grown children and was married for more than 50 years to her husband, Peter Shaw, before becoming a widow upon his death in early 2003. The power couple worked together on many of Lansbury's projects over the years, and she noted recently that losing her soul mate was one of the biggest "dividing times" in her life, requiring a great deal of space and healing to be able to emerge again from that deep grief and go back to working on her own. 

Lansbury has gone above and beyond in her professional life multiple times, and she has brought that same attitude toward more personal endeavors. The actress has been a strong supporter of a few charities, including Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, an organization that combated domestic abuse, and those who worked toward rehabilitating drug users. She has also supported a number of charities aimed at fighting against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Lansbury certainly has plenty of momentous events and people to remember, and she has given audiences just as many beautiful memories of her flawless and endearing performances. As one of the most respected women in Hollywood, Lansbury’s lifelong career speaks loudly for itself. Fans are certainly looking forward to whatever the prestigious actress has in the works and are glad to see she has no plans of retirement any time soon.

What do you think about Angela Lansbury and her incredibly long and successful career? Have you seen any of the productions she has starred in? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your family and friends, too.