Angela Lansbury Stars in New 'Little Women'

Angela Lansbury, beloved as Broadway’s Mame and as a sleuth on TV’s Murder, She Wrote, remains warm, fun and sharp as a tack. To think she was only 17 when she made her first movie, Alfred Hitchcock’s Gaslight (she even got an Oscar nomination). Now the mother of two and grandmother to three delights as moneybags Aunt March in PBS’s Little Women reboot, premiering May 13 on Masterpiece, alongside Maya Hawke, daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. And after 18 Emmy nominations without a win, this could be the one that nabs her a trophy at 92 years old.

Rich busybody Aunt March is a forceful character in Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women, isn't she?

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She is  crusty  as all get out! And, you know, I don’t relish being that crusty as a rule. I wanted to show that there was something underneath, some humor and some warmth.

Out of period dress, you’re modern, stylish and your own kind of energetic. Any tips?

Well, thank you. I’ve always said I have my grandfather’s genes [British Labour Party leader George Lansbury]. And I’m careful with my diet. I eat a lot of  yogurt , a lot of fruit in the morning. I don’t overdo. Christmas, Easter, too many chocolates? Yes. The rest of the time? No.

Are you still big on gardening? 

I love my garden. I do a lot of the actual manual work on it. I take care of the pool. When we have a big gust of wind, I’m out there skimming the leaves off the pool. Obviously, I have a pool company who takes care of it every week. But there are times when somebody’s got to get out there and get that stuff off the pool!

Angela Lansbury dancing with Michael Gambon, who plays a benevolent neighbor, in "Little Women."

BBC

Do you wish in some ways people didn’t know how old you were?

Well, I never think about it in that way. I don’t think they know that I am in my 90s. They just think, she must be of "a certain age" now, and they’d be right. I’ve never made any pretense of being younger than I am. I am what I am. It’s OK. I’ve made peace with myself. (Laughs)

What’s your social life like these days?

My children are a very important part of my life. My daughter, Deirdre — she’s called Angela as well —  has  a very successful restaurant, Enzo & Angela, with her husband Enzo [Battarra]. Best Italian food in L.A.! Delicious. I saw her this morning. She comes by my house a lot and so does my son, Anthony — we’re this close. I have fewer friends out on the West Coast than I did back East, where I spent the major portion of my professional life. Bea Arthur used to live out here, and we were very close friends. I miss her, I miss her being around. I have a few relatives, which is lovely — nieces and so on. We do lunch, as they say. (Laughs)