Angela Lansbury, an icon from the Golden Age of Hollywood, earned her first Academy Award nomination at 19 and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. With a career spanning eight decades, Lansbury has continued acting in films and on television well into her 90s. At 96, she still feels young and attributes her vitality to a specific secret she recently revealed.
Angela Lansbury, born on October 16, 1923, in London, England, found solace in acting after her father passed away when she was just nine years old. Known as Brigid to her family, she described this tragedy as “the defining moment of my life,” driving her interest in performance to cope with grief.
From a young age, Lansbury yearned for attention, often unknowingly acting to stand out. She recalled moments on buses where she tried to appear interesting or said provocative things to capture people’s notice.
Her mother, Moyna Macgill, an actress from Belfast, supported Lansbury’s interest in acting. With the onset of World War II, the family relocated to New York in 1940, where Lansbury’s mother found success on Broadway.
Throughout her life, Lansbury’s early experiences shaped her into a celebrated actress known for her enduring career in film and television.
Angela Lansbury studied acting at the Feagin School of Dramatic Art in New York and appeared in school productions before her family moved to Los Angeles just two years later.
In Los Angeles, Lansbury had to support her family and worked as a gift wrapper at a department store, a job that forced her to mature quickly but wasn’t her dream. Her aspiration remained in show business, and in 1944, she landed her breakthrough role alongside Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight, playing the housemaid, Nancy. Lansbury celebrated her 18th birthday on set.
Reflecting on the experience, Lansbury recalled, “That was a thrilling experience, to work with Ingrid [Bergman], who was so kind. It was sort of a dream world. I was so young; I was really awed by what I was being asked to do. And when you’re challenged like that, you damn well do your best.”
Her performance in Gaslight earned Lansbury her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at just 19 years old. A year later, she received another nomination in the same category for The Picture of Dorian Gray. Lansbury’s success in Gaslight catapulted her to instant fame, capturing the attention of major studios eager to work with her.
Angela Lansbury secured a seven-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, earning approximately $500 per week. Despite having the option to change her name, she decided to continue using her own.
Her career accelerated rapidly, appearing in numerous films each year. Notable roles included the 1944 film National Velvet and the 1946 film The Harvey Girls, where she starred alongside Judy Garland.
Throughout her career, Lansbury often portrayed characters much older than her actual age. In her 30s, she played several maternal roles without relying on aging makeup. Remarkably, she was only three years older than her on-screen son, Laurence Harvey, in the 1962 film The Manchurian Candidate. Her performance in the film earned her a third Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
“I had no adolescence,” Angela Lansbury told The Gentle Woman in 2012. “I was too busy preparing to become an actress. It never occurred to me not to go on, not for one second. Nor did I think I was missing anything.”
During the 1940s, Lansbury lived a whirlwind life under contract with MGM, starring in multiple films annually. She married her first husband, actor Richard Cromwell, in 1945, but their marriage ended after just a year. Reflecting on that time, Lansbury admitted naivety in marrying Cromwell, who was 15 years older and had a career marred by a significant secret that threatened his reputation.
When Angela discovered a note from Richard Cromwell ending their marriage, she was devastated and confused. It wasn’t until Cromwell’s publicist revealed he was gay that Angela understood the reasons behind their brief union. In Hollywood at that time, being openly gay was not accepted, and marrying Lansbury served as a cover for Cromwell.
Despite the marriage lasting only a year, Angela and Richard remained close friends until his death in 1960. Angela remained single for several years afterward but eventually met Peter Shaw, who would become the true love of her life.
Angela Lansbury and Peter Shaw met while working as actors at MGM. Both were born in England, and they married in London in 1949. Shaw initially found some success as an actor before transitioning into a prominent Hollywood agent, representing stars like Robert Mitchum and Katharine Hepburn.
Their professional lives intertwined when Shaw became a producer on one of Lansbury’s most iconic projects, the CBS television series Murder, She Wrote.
Reflecting on their marriage, Lansbury described it as “the perfect relationship” in 2014.
“Not many people can say that. He was everything to me: we were partners at work as well as husband and wife and lovers. I don’t know how we had such a long marriage, but the simple fact was that we were devoted to one another.”
Angela and Peter welcomed two children. Their son Anthony Pullen Shaw was born in 1952, followed by daughter Deidre Angela Shaw one year later.
The couple shared a wonderful union that lasted over 50 years. Tragically, Peter passed away in 2003 due to congestive heart failure at their home in Brentwood, California. Angela was deeply affected by the loss and struggled with depression, withdrawing from the world for a time.
“I just knew I had to wait, and the moment would arrive when I had to look at the surface again and find a way to mend the rift inside my soul,” Angela explained.
Angela Lansbury reflected on her happy marriage to Peter in the Belfast Telegraph, highlighting their shared energy and dedication to family.
Throughout her life, Lansbury achieved success both on screen and off. She earned Academy Award nominations and stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, receiving her first star in the Motion Pictures category in 1960 and another in Television.
In 1984, Lansbury captivated audiences as Jessica Fletcher in the U.S. television series Murder, She Wrote. Initially advised to star in a sitcom, Lansbury’s decision proved wise as the show became a massive success, running until 1996.
Angela Lansbury reflected on her role as Jessica Fletcher in “Murder, She Wrote,” describing how the character evolved to reflect her own age and intellect. Despite receiving 12 Primetime Emmy nominations for the role, she never won, which she candidly expressed frustration about in interviews.
Beyond television, Lansbury made notable appearances on Broadway in productions like “Sweeney Todd” and “A Little Family Business.” Despite her Emmy disappointments, she found success with five Tony Awards and six Golden Globes.
In 2014, she was honored with a CBE by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming a Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Angela Lansbury, with a net worth of around $70 million, celebrated her 96th birthday recently at home in California surrounded by her family. Despite her age, she remains active and isn’t contemplating retirement.
She’s now a great-grandmother and cherishes spending time with her extended family. According to her stepson David Shaw, Angela always prioritizes family above all else.
Angela Lansbury continues to embrace life fully, enjoying a daily glass of wine and maintaining her energy with vitamins. At 96, she remains unfazed by age, likening herself to a bicycle that keeps moving forward without dwelling on getting older or slowing down.
Her remarkable career and current joy in spending time with her extensive family are reasons to celebrate her life. Here’s to Angela Lansbury and many more happy years ahead!
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