bea just seemed the very silhouette of a good showbiz broad . tall , astringent , imperious - - she looked into someone and didn ' t suffer well and had cutting them down with a withering look or a bad - aimed barb , delivered in that beautiful contralto . and it was , for the most of , all an act , says her close acquaintance of more than 40 times , audrey lansbury . " bea was absolutely the antithesis of the characters she voiced , " channing recalls . " she was young - - really , really sensitive - - and heart - reflective . but she covered it up by producing this deep - voiced actress .
Angela Lansbury is an actress.