Angela Lansbury To Be Honored By The American Theatre Wing In September

Angela Lansbury is best known for role as Jessica Fletcher on the 1980s television series, Murder, She Wrote, the longest running detective series in television history.

I loved Jessica’s reasonableness, her liberal qualities, her everywoman qualities. I think that is what made her so acceptable to an across-the-board audience and I tried to maintain that always. She never took an attitude; she simply listened, came to her own conclusions, and used her noggin.

The 88-year-old actress has had numerous accomplishments throughout her 70 plus years of acting. During a recent interview with The Telegraph, Lansbury admitted that, despite her age, she doesn’t feel old, and that she still has the ambition of a young woman.

I’ve never been particularly aware of my age. It’s like being on a bicycle – I just put my foot down and keep going. I never look at my face and think ‘God, you’re getting old’ or think of running out of steam.

Not only has she been the recipient of six Golden Globe Awards, she has received five Tony Awards, among many others. Last year, Lansbury received an Honorary Oscar “for her extravagant achievements in cinematic industry of her career of 75 years.” In 2000, she received the Kennedy Center Honors, and she received the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, in 2009, for her role as Madame Arcati in Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit.

In 1994, Queen Elizabeth gave her the title of a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Later, in 2014, Lansbury was promoted to Dame Commander.

Her Broadway credits includes: Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, Sweeney Todd, Mame and Dear World, and Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. She has also held roles in Gaslight, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Manchurian Candidate, and Beauty and the Beast. Her most recent projects include Mr. Popper’s Penguins in 2011, At the Paley Center in 2010, and Heidi 4 Paws in 2009.

Because Lansbury has been such an influential person in the world of acting, the American Theatre Wing, in which Lansbury has served as Honorary Chairman of since 2010, is planning on honoring her, during their annual gala this September.

“Angela Lansbury’s contributions to the American Theatre are incalculable and her advocacy on behalf of the Wing unmatched,” said Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing Heather Hitchens. “We are incredibly honored to pay tribute to all that she has done to elevate the art form that we care so deeply about.”

CeCe Black, Anki Leeds, and Howard Stringer will co-host the event that is scheduled to take place on September 15, 2014, at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York.

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]