Bea Arthur: In Her Own Words

Bea Arthur died a week ago and since then, it has been a week of tributes at a level that is rarely seen in the entertainment world. It’s been so nice to see. What’s also been nice is the many videos that are popping of on YouTube of Miss Arthur talking about her life and career. Many are interview I’ve never seen including the one below from March 2001.

She talks about how Norman Lear wrote the part of Maude Findlay especially for her. It began as a guest spot on All in the Family as Edith Bunker’s liberal cousin – as liberal as Archie was conservative, She was the first character who talked back to Archie. The president of CBS called Lear and said: “Who is that girl? Let’s give her her own show!” Arthur called it a middle-aged Cinderella story.

She is asked how she would like to be remembered and her answer, “As an artist – as an important artist” is so satisfying in light of what has happened since her death – a real appreciation for her as an artist – as a stage actress who was able to translate her considerable gifts onto the small screen.