---
name: "Angela Lansbury"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/angela-lansbury"
fi1m_id: "angela-lansbury"
imdb_id: "nm0001450"
tmdb_id: 14730
wikidata_id: "Q206856"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 October 1925"
died: "11 October 2022"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-07T04:24:51.839488+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Angela Lansbury

## Identity

Angela Lansbury

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/angela-lansbury
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** angela-lansbury
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001450
- **TMDB ID:** 14730
- **Wikidata ID:** Q206856
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Lansbury, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206856, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001450/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14730

Actor. Born 16 October 1925 in London, England, UK. Died 11 October 2022.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 October 1925, London, England, UK
- **Died:** 11 October 2022
- **Active:** 1944–2022
- **Also known as:** Angela Brigid Lansbury, آنجلا لنسبوری
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 9: 8 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Don Hahn](https://film.one/person/don-hahn.md)
- **Golden Globes:** 6 Golden Globes (6 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 81 (1), 1960s 88 (1), 1980s 52 (1), 1990s 78 (2), 2000s 65 (1), 2010s 64 (2), 2020s 72 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 73 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Family 4, Fantasy 4, Animation 3, Comedy 3, Crime 3, Mystery 3
- **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,505m across 8 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Lansbury, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206856, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001450/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14730

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Beauty and the Beast*](https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast.md) (91), [*Fantasia 2000*](https://film.one/film/fantasia-2000.md) (65), [*Anastasia*](https://film.one/film/anastasia.md) (64)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Manchurian Candidate*](https://film.one/film/the-manchurian-candidate.md) (88), [*The Mirror Crack'd*](https://film.one/film/the-mirror-crackd.md) (52)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Gaslight*](https://film.one/film/gaslight.md) (81)
- **Peacock:** [*The Grinch*](https://film.one/film/the-grinch.md) (62)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Angela Lansbury

> Angela Lansbury was cast older, harder and less kind than she was, and made those parts the best thing on screen. Maid or teapot, she never told us what to feel about her.

Nancy the maid comes into the drawing room in *Gaslight* (1944) with a cigarette, a London vowel and no interest at all in hiding what she thinks of her mistress. It was Lansbury's first film. Every time Nancy came in we sat up, because she is the only person in that house who is not afraid, and a film about a woman being talked out of her mind needs one person who says what she thinks. She is a jolt each time, and the house scenes are sharper for it.

MGM signed her on the strength of it and then spent years casting her as the maid, the mother and the woman older and harder than the actress playing her. *The Picture of Dorian Gray* (1945) came within a year. Her own verdict on the studio's thinking was blunt: "I was all talent and no looks." The habit stuck, and the part most often named as her best on screen is Eleanor Iselin in John Frankenheimer's *The Manchurian Candidate* (1962), a mother of a kind nobody would wish on a son. It is the film people mean when they say the studios used her badly for so long.

The turn came on stage. *Mame* (1966) made her a star there in a way films never had, and Mrs Lovett in Stephen Sondheim's *Sweeney Todd* (1979) let her be funny and dreadful at once. Television did the rest. Twelve years as Jessica Fletcher in *Murder, She Wrote* (1984–1996) made her, for a whole generation, the sensible woman who notices things, and the image had a cost: the darker parts came less often, and she turned down at least one that might have suited her.

Mrs Potts in *Beauty and the Beast* (1991) is where the two halves of the career meet. She is a teapot, she is a mother, and she has to sing the title song over two people who are only just working out that they like each other. She does it as if she would rather not intrude, and it is the warmest thing in the film without once telling us that it is warm. Orbach and Stiers do the jokes; she is the reason the castle feels like somewhere you could live.

Start with *Gaslight* and then go straight to the teapot. Nearly fifty years apart, the maid who despises her mistress and the housekeeper who loves everybody are played the same way: she gives us the person and leaves the verdict to us.

## Biography

Angela Lansbury was a British-American actress. She made her film debut in *Gaslight* (1944) and voiced Mrs. Potts in the Disney animated feature *Beauty and the Beast* (1991). Other film roles include *The Manchurian Candidate* (1962) and *Bedknobs and Broomsticks* (1971).

Lansbury starred as Jessica Fletcher in the television series *Murder, She Wrote* (1984–1996). She also appeared in later films such as *Nanny McPhee* (2005), *Mr. Popper's Penguins* (2011) and *Mary Poppins Returns* (2018), and provided voices for *Anastasia* (1997) and *The Grinch* (2018).

*Sources: imdb.com, thewaltdisneycompany.com, bfi.org.uk, apnews.com.*

## On Fi1m (9)

### Performed in (8) — the average rests on these

- *Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery* (2022), Fi1m 72, as Angela Lansbury — [page](https://film.one/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery.md)
- *Mary Poppins Returns* (2018), Fi1m 67, as Balloon Lady — [page](https://film.one/film/mary-poppins-returns.md)
- *The Grinch* (2018), Fi1m 62, as Mayor McGerkle (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-grinch.md)
- *Anastasia* (1997), Fi1m 64, as Dowager Empress Marie (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/anastasia.md)
- *Beauty and the Beast* (1991), Fi1m 91, as Mrs. Potts (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast.md)
- *The Mirror Crack'd* (1980), Fi1m 52, as Miss Marple — [page](https://film.one/film/the-mirror-crackd.md)
- *The Manchurian Candidate* (1962), Fi1m 88, as Mrs. Iselin — [page](https://film.one/film/the-manchurian-candidate.md)
- *Gaslight* (1944), Fi1m 81, as Nancy — [page](https://film.one/film/gaslight.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Fantasia 2000* (2000), Fi1m 65, as Self - Host — [page](https://film.one/film/fantasia-2000.md)

## Complete filmography (119)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery* (2022), as Angela Lansbury · In Memory Of — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/glass-onion-a-knives-out-mystery.md)
- *Show of Titles* (2021), as "There's No Business Like Show Business" Performer
- *Knives Out* (2019), Thanks — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/knives-out.md)
- *Mary Poppins Returns* (2018), as Balloon Lady — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/mary-poppins-returns.md)
- *Buttons* (2018), as Rose
- *Harold Prince: The Director's Life* (2018), Actor
- *The Grinch* (2018), as Mayor McGerkle (voice) — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/the-grinch.md)
- *Little Women* (2017), series, as Aunt March
- *Driving Miss Daisy* (2015), as Daisy Werthan
- *Six by Sondheim* (2013), as Mrs. Lovett (archive footage)
- *Mr. Popper's Penguins* (2011), as Mrs. Van Gundy
- *The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics* (2008), as Narrator
- *Heidi 4 Paws* (2008), as Grandmother (voice)
- *Nanny McPhee* (2005), as Aunt Adelaide
- *Disney Princess Sing Along Songs, Vol. 2 - Enchanted Tea Party* (2005), as Mrs. Potts (voice)
- *Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards* (2005), as Rose (segment "Gypsy") (archive footage)
- *Law & Order: Trial by Jury* (2005), series, as Eleanor Duvall
- *Broadway's Lost Treasures II* (2004), as Mame Dennis (segment "Mame")
- *Disney Princess Sing Along Songs, Vol. 1 - Once Upon A Dream* (2004), as Mrs. Potts (voice)
- *The Blackwater Lightship* (2004), as Dora
- *Broadway's Lost Treasures* (2003), as Host / Mrs. Lovett (segment "Sweeney Todd")
- *Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle* (2003), as Jessica Fletcher
- *Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs': Still the Fairest of Them All* (2001), as Narrator
- *Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man* (2001), as Jessica Fletcher / Sarah McCullough
- *Disney Through The Decades* (2001), Actor
- *Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For* (2000), as Jessica Fletcher
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Eleanor Duvall
- *The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax* (1999), as Emily Pollifax
- *Glorious Technicolor* (1998), as Narrator (voice)
- *Anastasia* (1997), as Dowager Empress Marie (voice) — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/anastasia.md)
- *Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas* (1997), as Mrs. Potts (voice)
- *Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest* (1997), as Jessica Fletcher
- *Mrs. Santa Claus* (1996), as Mrs. Santa Claus
- *Anyone Can Whistle: Live at Carnegie Hall* (1995), as Narrator
- *Your Studio and You* (1995), as Angela Lansbury
- *A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim* (1995), Actor
- *Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories: The Christmas Witch* (1994), as Narrator
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Lady Penelope Berrington
- *That's Entertainment! III* (1994), as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris* (1992), as Mrs. Ada Harris
- *Mickey's Audition* (1992), as Sylvia
- *Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories* (1992), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Beauty and the Beast* (1991), as Mrs. Potts (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/beauty-and-the-beast.md)
- *The Love She Sought* (1990), as Agatha McGee
- *The Shell Seekers* (1989), as Penelope Keeling
- *Shootdown* (1988), as Nan Moore
- *Rage of Angels: The Story Continues* (1986), as Marchesa Allabrandi
- *Rage of Angels: The Story Continues* (1986), series, as Marchesa Allabrandi
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Jessica Fletcher · Producer
- *The Company of Wolves* (1984), as Granny
- *The First Olympics: Athens 1896* (1984), series, as Alice Garrett
- *Lace* (1984), series, as Aunt Hortense Boutin
- *The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story* (1983), as Amanda Fenwick
- *A Talent for Murder* (1983), as Ann Royce McClain
- *The Pirates of Penzance* (1983), as Ruth
- *The Last Unicorn* (1982), as Mommy Fortuna (voice)
- *Little Gloria... Happy at Last* (1982), series, as Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney
- *Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street* (1982), as Nellie Lovett
- *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as Jessica Fletcher
- *The Mirror Crack'd* (1980), as Miss Marple — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/the-mirror-crackd.md)
- *The Lady Vanishes* (1979), as Miss Froy
- *Death on the Nile* (1978), as Salome Otterbourne
- *The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow* (1975), as Sister Theresa / Narrator (voice)
- *That's Entertainment!* (1974), as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Sondheim: A Musical Tribute* (1973), Actor
- *Bedknobs and Broomsticks* (1971), as Miss Price
- *Something for Everyone* (1970), as Countess Herthe von Ornstein
- *Omnibus* (1967), series, Actor
- *Mister Buddwing* (1966), as Gloria
- *Harlow* (1965), as Mama Jean Bello
- *The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders* (1965), as Lady Blystone
- *The Greatest Story Ever Told* (1965), as Claudia
- *Dear Heart* (1965), as Phyllis
- *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.* (1964), series, as Elfie van Donck
- *The World of Henry Orient* (1964), as Isabel Boyd
- *In the Cool of the Day* (1963), as Sybil Logan
- *The Manchurian Candidate* (1962), as Mrs. Iselin — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-manchurian-candidate.md)
- *All Fall Down* (1962), as Annabell Willart
- *Blue Hawaii* (1961), as Sarah Lee Gates
- *The Dark at the Top of the Stairs* (1960), as Mavis Pruitt
- *A Breath of Scandal* (1960), as Countess Lina
- *Summer of the Seventeenth Doll* (1959), as Pearl
- *The Reluctant Debutante* (1958), as Mabel Claremont
- *The Long, Hot Summer* (1958), as Minnie Littlejohn
- *Claire* (1956), as Vera Wayne
- *Please Murder Me* (1956), as Myra Leeds
- *The Court Jester* (1955), as Princess Gwendolyn
- *A Lawless Street* (1955), as Tally Dickenson
- *Screen Director's Playhouse* (1955), series, as Vera Wayne
- *The Purple Mask* (1955), as Madame Valentine
- *A Life at Stake* (1955), as Doris Hillman
- *Stage 7* (1955), series, as Vanessa Peters
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Justina Marshall, Judith Beresford
- *Studio 57* (1954), series, Actor
- *Revlon Mirror Theatre* (1953), series, Actor
- *Remains to Be Seen* (1953), as Valeska Chauvel
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Daphne Rutledge
- *The Ford Television Theatre* (1952), series, as Lola Walker
- *Four Star Playhouse* (1952), series, as Joan Robinson, Mrs. Hallerton
- *Mutiny* (1952), as Leslie Waldridge
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Penelope Keeling, Dora
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Florie Vandrop
- *Kind Lady* (1951), as Mrs. Edwards
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Leslie, Lucy Landor, Tina Rafferty, Elsa
- *Your Show of Shows* (1950), series, Actor
- *Robert Montgomery Presents* (1950), series, as Christine Manson, Rosie
- *Samson and Delilah* (1949), as Semadar
- *The Red Danube* (1949), as Audrey Quail
- *The Three Musketeers* (1948), as Queen Ann
- *State of the Union* (1948), as Kay Thorndyke
- *Tenth Avenue Angel* (1948), as Susan Bratten
- *If Winter Comes* (1947), as Mabel Sabre
- *The Private Affairs of Bel Ami* (1947), as Clotilde de Marelle
- *Till the Clouds Roll By* (1946), as London Specialty
- *The Hoodlum Saint* (1946), as Dusty Millard
- *The Harvey Girls* (1946), as Em
- *The Picture of Dorian Gray* (1945), as Sibyl Vane
- *National Velvet* (1945), as Edwina Brown
- *Gaslight* (1944), as Nancy — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/gaslight.md)

## Gallery

- ![Alfred Uhry, James Earl Jones, Boyd Gaines, Angela Lansbury , David Esbjornson (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/78789/gallery-d5caf1a1d301.jpg) Alfred Uhry, James Earl Jones, Boyd Gaines, Angela Lansbury , David Esbjornson (2013) — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Alfred_Uhry%2C_James_Earl_Jones%2C_Boyd_Gaines%2C_Angela_Lansbury_%2C_David_Esbjornson_%288516678911%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![The actress Angela Lansbury signing autographs outside the stage door of the Shubert Theatre, following a performance in Blithe Spirit, April 11, 2009.](https://film.one/media/person/78789/gallery-0064d7bb6d13.jpg) The actress Angela Lansbury signing autographs outside the stage door of the Shubert Theatre, following a performance in Blithe Spirit, April 11, 2009. — Verne Equinox, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/AngelaLansbury_2009.jpg/1280px-AngelaLansbury_2009.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![1993 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan](https://film.one/media/person/78789/gallery-57faaa23689c.jpg) 1993 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Angela_Lansbury_%282077577847%29.jpg/1280px-Angela_Lansbury_%282077577847%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![1993 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan](https://film.one/media/person/78789/gallery-3926268d497a.jpg) 1993 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Angela_Lansbury_%282077580023%29.jpg/1280px-Angela_Lansbury_%282077580023%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Angela Lansbury](https://film.one/media/person/78789/gallery-58c0d2fe84b3.jpg) Angela Lansbury — Image via TMDB
- ![Angela Lansbury](https://film.one/media/person/78789/gallery-a5c72f56d660.jpg) Angela Lansbury — Image via TMDB
- ![Angela Lansbury](https://film.one/media/person/78789/gallery-fe1123375aab.jpg) Angela Lansbury — Image via TMDB
- ![Photo taken at the 45th Emmy Awards 9/19/93- Governor's Ball - Permission granted to copy, publish or post but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can (1993)](https://film.one/media/person/78789/gallery-cd9a788e4452.jpg) Photo taken at the 45th Emmy Awards 9/19/93- Governor's Ball - Permission granted to copy, publish or post but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can (1993) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Angela_Lansbury_%28211284415%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Angela Lansbury](https://film.one/media/person/78789/gallery-d8ee19ab627b.jpg) Angela Lansbury — Image via TMDB
- ![Angela Lansbury](https://film.one/media/person/78789/gallery-b8d4da76b980.jpg) Angela Lansbury — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- 1963: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *The Manchurian Candidate*
- 1946: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *The Picture of Dorian Gray*
- 1945: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Gaslight*

### Golden Globes — 6 won

- 1992: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (won), for *Murder, She Wrote*
- 1990: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (won), for *Murder, She Wrote*
- 1987: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (won), for *Murder, She Wrote*
- 1984: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (won), for *Murder, She Wrote*
- 1963: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (won), for *The Manchurian Candidate*
- 1945: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (won), for *The Picture of Dorian Gray*

### Other awards — 14 won, 1 nominated

- Academy Honorary Award 2014: Academy Honorary Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 2009: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (won)
- honorary doctor of the University of Miami 2008: honorary doctor of the University of Miami (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2007: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Malice Domestic Poirot Award 2005: Malice Domestic Poirot Award (won)
- Kennedy Center Honors 2000: Kennedy Center Honors (won)
- Lucy Award 1996: Lucy Award (won)
- Disney Legends 1995: Disney Legends (won)
- Sarah Siddons Award 1981: Sarah Siddons Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical 1979: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (won)
- Sarah Siddons Award 1975: Sarah Siddons Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical 1975: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical 1969: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (won)
- Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year 1968: Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical 1966: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/angela-lansbury