Page 94 - You - South Africa (February 2020)

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Bea Arthur as Dorothyy, E st el le G y p ,
Betty White as Rose and Rue McClanahan
as Blanche.
FOREVER
HE’S the twinkly-eyed
queen of the small screen,
the dimpled grand dame
of Hollywood and the last
Golden Girl standing. GOLDEN
And Betty White isn’t
going anywhere anytime
Ssoon. The beloved actress She’s just turned 98 but sparkling Betty White
has just celebrated her 98th birthday –
but not for her a quiet tea party with a is as spirited as she was when she played ditsy
couple of sweet old dears.
When you’re the oldest working ac- Rose in The Golden Girls COMPILED BY SANDY COOK
tress in Tinseltown and one of the most
highly respected stars of all time, people
take note. And Betty’s big day was steal yo’ man,” she tweeted in 2014. Fol- myandtwoScreenActorsGuildawards.
marked with an eruption of messages lowed by, “Who cares about age when She was named honorary mayor of
and memes and an outpouring of love. you still have your beauty?” Hollywood in 1955 and has a star on
Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, Many older people are reluctant to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And in
withwhomshestarredinthe2014movie jump on the social media bandwagon 2015 she was honoured with a Daytime
TheProposal,evenserenadedherwitha butnotBetty–shehas1,4millionInsta- Emmy lifetime achievement award.
special birthday song. gram followers and 1,39 million Twitter Yet retirement has never been on the
The actors sang their parts separately fans to her name. cards for Betty. In 2010 she appeared on
tothecamera,andRyanthenmergedthe Nothing much seems to get her down Saturday Night Live after a Facebook
clips to create a touching and hilarious – not even recurring rumours of her group campaigned for her to host the
tribute to the nonagenarian superstar. death, which popped up in 2014, 2015 wildly popular and irreverent American
Sandra (55) ended with, “From Sandy, and again last year. “Tell them there’s no late-nightcomedyshow.Herepisodewon
wholovesyoumorethanRyan.”Towhich need to get impatient,” she quipped the ravereviews,earnedheranEmmyandre-
he replied, “What did Sandy ever do for last time. “I’m hurrying as best I can.” cordedthehighestratingsin18months.
you? Did she ever show up and hand- In 2014 she earned an Emmy nod for
deliver flowers to you wearing nothing EHIND Betty’s sweetheart her prank show Betty White’s Off Their
but black socks and a dozen gold brace- smile is a steely determina- Rocker.
lets,justlikeyourequested?Doubtit.” tion to succeed, and it’s stood She’sworkedinshowbizforeightdec-
Betty was no doubt delighted. She’s her in good stead. adesandhasthelongestTVcareerofany
theepitomeoftheage-is-nothing-but-a- Over the years she’s won female entertainer in history – a feat
number adage. “I’m 92 and I can stillBsevenEmmyawards,aGram- that’s earned her a place in Guinness

92 | 6 FEBRUARY 2020 you.co.za