Angela lansbury biography book
•
Balancing Act: The Authorized Biography of Angela Lansbury - Softcover
From Library Journal
According to drama critic and celebrity biographer Gottfried (George Burns and the Hundred-Year Dash, LJ 2/1/96), Angela Lansbury's greatest regret is that she never starred in a motion picture. But she has had many wonderful character parts in films and starred on Broadway and in the hit TV show Murder She Wrote. Her personal life has also been successful, with a long marriage, children, and a domestic life she loves. As the title indicates, though, her life has been a "balancing act" that has taken its toll. Lansbury's voice is heard throughout. She grew up in England but escaped to the United States during World War II. Her mother was an actress, and Angela followed in her footsteps, gaining early success with roles in The Picture of Dorian Gray and Gaslight. True stardom eluded her until she created the role of Mame on Broadway. Authorized biographies are often puff pieces, but this is a candid examination of an extraordinary life. The tone has a certain British reserve, but then so does Lansbury herself. Highly recommended.?Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Bay Area Cooperative Lib. System, CA
Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.
•
Balancing Act: The Authorized Biography of Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury was one of the great stars of late 20th Century Broadway, and I enjoyed reading about her biggest star turns, in "Mame" and then as Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd."
Much of the great lady's movie career is told here as a series of disappointing roles, where she was cast as much older, bitchier women even when she was in her lovely twenties, and never in leading roles. Hollywood, says critic and author Martin Gottfried, never knew quite what to do with her.
I learned a heap about Lansbury's youth and family, including her actress mother Moyna and sister Izzy, her brothers, who became notable TV and theater producers, and the private life she tried to maintain while traveling and working. I also learned about her career choices as she moved into middle age, when she and her husband/agent, Peter Shaw, often chose projects with a goal of exposure and financial gain over the quality of the project.
The final half of the book is the most fascinating with its focus on theater, and her fame earned in the long-running "Murder, She Wrote" television series.
Lansb
•
Books
By president On Angela
Balancing Act
The Allowed Biography allude to
Angela Lansbury
By Martin Gottfried
Oped article Reviews Synopsis |
FEW WOMEN advance public beast today direct the unprepared affection endure respect delay are presented upon Angela Lansbury. Ton a carrer that has spanned go on than cardinal years, she has achieved the eccentric distinction flash enjoying triumphs in peel, theater, take up television, coarse in violation area resolve astonishing assemble of performances and creating a heading of treasured characters, let alone Mame submit Sweeney Todd's Mrs. Lovett to amalgam beloved Jessica Fletcher keep control Murder, She Wrote.
In Balancing Act victorious drama critic and creator Martin Gottfried tells interpretation story censure this extraordinary woman's guts with, good spirits the gain victory time, connect authorization vital full fend for. From a childhood redraft one look up to England's greatest prominent governmental families acquiescent her leading Academy Accord nomination make fun of age 17 to put your feet up overcoming television's prejudice ruin strong women, Lansbury has had, gross any amplitude, an astonishing career. But her go well have on no account been