Angela Lansbury To Act On Same Stage As Her Mother

Angela Lansbury may not see a “Murder She Wrote” remake happen, but she’s got bigger things going on; namely, taking the same stage her mother acted on in 1918. The 88-year old actre...
Angela Lansbury To Act On Same Stage As Her Mother
Written by Amanda Crum
  • Angela Lansbury may not see a “Murder She Wrote” remake happen, but she’s got bigger things going on; namely, taking the same stage her mother acted on in 1918.

    The 88-year old actress will be reprising her role as Madame Arcati in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit this year at London’s Gielgud Theatre, where her mother, Moyna Macgill, made her acting debut nearly a century ago.

    “Isn’t it amazing?” Lansbury said. “She made her debut there and I’m going in now. I could be in her dressing room. I know so much of my talent came from her. She was a sensitive, lovely actress who played Desdemona, and acted with Basil Rathbone. She was a star.”

    Dame Lansbury has played the role before, on Broadway in 2009, but this will be her first time on a London stage in over 40 years, and she says she’s excited for the chance. It’s a challenging role, however, and involves a dance which she says she will perform differently every night.

    The veteran actress spoke recently about the NBC reboot of the 80’s murder mystery show that enjoyed years of success, saying she didn’t quite agree with using the same title.

    “I think it’s a mistake to call it Murder, She Wrote, because Murder, She Wrote will always be about Cabot Cove and this wonderful group of people who told those lovely stories and enjoyed a piece of that place, and also enjoyed Jessica Fletcher, who is a rare and very individual kind of person. So, I’m sorry that they have to use the title Murder, She Wrote, even though they have access to it and it’s their right.”

    The reboot has been shelved, however, so fans of the original needn’t worry. Lansbury says she’s relieved that NBC won’t be moving forward with the show.

    “I knew it was a terrible mistake,” she said. “I didn’t want to sully the memory.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

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