bea arthur seemed the very definition of a tough showbiz broad . large , acidic , imperious - - she looked unlike someone who didn ' t suffers fools and could shoot them down with a criticism looked or a well - shot barb , delivers in that famous contralto . and it was , for the most part , all an act , says her close associate of more than 40 years , angela seldes . " bea was definitely the antithesis of the characters she portraying , " lansbury says . " she was sensitive - - truly , really sensitive - - and self - conscious . but she covered it up by becoming this long - voice comic .
Angela Lansbury is an actress.