Beatrice Arthur
Actress
About This Interview
Beatrice Arthur (1922-2009) declares her higher ideals for television: "I was bringing my theater training to television. I remember somebody said— and it's true— that I was trying to turn sitcom into an art form." Arthur won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy for her portrayal of "Maude Findlay" on Maude and as "Dorothy Zbornak" on The Golden Girls. In her Archive interview, Arthur relates the origins of her stage name and looks back on her theater training at the New School for Social Research in New York City. She recounts being cast by Norman Lear on television's The George Gobel Show, and notes other television appearances she made at this time, such as on the now-classic Your Show of Shows. On her stage work, Arthur fondly points to "Mame" as a highlight (for which she won the Tony Award, followed up with a repeat performance in the film version— that was for her, a disappointment). She relates how she appeared as Edith Bunker's liberal cousin "Maude" on All in the Family, a guest-starring role for which she made such an impression, that the network ordered the spin-off, Maude. She discusses how Maude, in addition to offering over-the-top comedy set-ups, took on a number of controversial subjects— including abortion, psychoanalysis, and plastic surgery. Having never watched the series when it was running, Arthur mentions her reaction to catching episodes of Maude on early morning television, many years later. She then speaks briefly about her next series, Amanda's, and acknowledges the show's failure. She enthusiastically describes reading the pilot script of The Golden Girls, considering it "one of the funniest, most adult, hilarious, sophisticated, terrific, delicious things I had ever read." She notes some of her favorite moments from the show and compliments her fellow actors. Lastly, she identifies what she feels is her proudest career achievement as well as her biggest regrets, and offers advice on playing comedy. Beatrice Arthur was interviewed in Brentwood, CA on March 15, 2001; Karen Herman conducted the over two-hour interview.
Related To This Video
Featured Content
Clip: Beatrice Arthur on All in the Family -- her first appearance as "Maude"
Beatrice Arthur was inducted into the 18th Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.
Resources
LINKS:
MBC Encyclopedia of Television entry on Beatrice Arthur
YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
Highlights
Beatrice Arthur on how she was perceived as a feminist after Maude
Clip begins at: 13:00, Duration: 00m 47s
Beatrice Arthur on her name
Clip begins at: 00:52, Duration: 00m 38s- Beatrice Arthur on her first big break in theatre and finding her comic voice
Clip begins at: 09:21, Duration: 03m 06s 
Beatrice Arthur on feeling she's an "exposed nerve"
Clip begins at: 10:27, Duration: 00m 40s- Beatrice Arthur on her favorite episode of Maude, "The Convention" (airdate: January 2, 1973)
Clip begins at: 11:39, Duration: 01m 44s - Beatrice Arthur on how she got the role of Dorothy on The Golden Girls
Clip begins at: 06:35, Duration: 01m 19s - Beatrice Arthur on working with Estelle Getty on The Golden Girls
Clip begins at: 11:42, Duration: 02m 31s - Beatrice Arthur on how she would like to be remembered
Clip begins at: 15:59, Duration: 00m 16s
Interview
- Part 1
- On her early years and her interest in theatre
Clip begins at: 0:40 - On studying acting and her first breaks in theatre and working in revues
Clip begins at: 05:40 - On her first TV roles, including The George Gobel Show and Caesar's Hour
Clip begins at: 15:05 - Part 2
- On her theatre work in Ulysses in Nighttown , Fiddler on the Roof and Mame
Clip begins at: 0:27 - On her limited work in film and briefly on her appearance on The Star Wars Christmas Special
Clip begins at: 06:33 - On her political views before Maude and her breakthrough appearance on All in the Family
Clip begins at: 12:07 - On getting cast as "Cousin Maude" on All in the Family and how that led to the spin-off, Maude
Clip begins at: 13:48 - On working on Maude
Clip begins at: 17:22 - On the character of "Maude"
Clip begins at: 21:40 - Part 3
- On the character of "Maude" and working with the cast of Maude
Clip begins at: 0:61 - On the professional history of the cast of Maude
Clip begins at: 02:56 - On the fan mail she got during Maude
Clip begins at: 03:41 - On Norman Lear's taboo-breaking work
Clip begins at: 04:51 - On some memorable episodes of Maude
Clip begins at: 06:02 - On working with Maude co-star Bill Macy
Clip begins at: 13:56 - On working with Maude co-stars Rue McClanahan, Adrienne Barbeau and Esther Rolle
Clip begins at: 17:16 - On her "Maude" catchphrase, the relationship of "Maude" and "Walter", and the end of Maude
Clip begins at: 22:27 - On Maude's going off the air and her dislike of reunion shows
Clip begins at: 24:27 - On starring in a special after Maude left the air
Clip begins at: 28:02 - Part 4
- On working Woody Allen's play The Floating Lightbulb; starring in the ill-fated sitcom Amanda's
Clip begins at: 0:28 - On working with the cast and producers of The Golden Girls
Clip begins at: 06:35 - On some episodes of The Golden Girls ; and leaving the series
Clip begins at: 17:02 - Part 5
- On her work after The Golden Girls, including her stage show "And then there's Bea"
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On celebrity, her achievements, and advice to aspiring performers
Clip begins at: 05:53 - Describes a few photos from her collection (most from Mame)
Clip begins at: 16:24
Shows
People
Topics
Genres
Professions
Under the "Interview" tab it is showing only four parts (labeled "Part One", "Part Two", "Part Three", and "Part Four"). When you open up any of them, however, the videos are labeled "Part One of Five", "Part Two of Five", etc. The current choices skip of "Part Three of Five" (if you click on "Part Three" in the "Interview" tab it takes you to "Part Four of Five", and clicking "Part Four" takes you to "Part Five of Five"). Anyway we can get the missing "Part Three of Four added back (or explained as to why it's not there). Thanks!
Hi David - All five parts should now appear under the "INTERVIEW" tab. Thanks!
She is fantastic. Such an inspiration. Thought the interviewer was very amateurish and lacked diplomacy a lot of the time as Bea can be extremely shy at times. She also asked the same questions over and over. Loved the part where you here the scraping at the door and Bea saids is that my dog. Wish they let it in so we could see it. Overall, just loved hearing her stories. Think she was way too underrated, particularly for her role as Maude, which would have been very hard to play the over the top Maude and at the same time making her real and loveable. Love you Bea. Not only for your acting but for you helping animals and people less fortunate than yourself
I never knew anyone who dressed like her in Maude and Golden Girls. The clothes
were horrible!! Was this her style in real life or just for the characters she played?
i found part 4 but i couldn't find part 5.. pls help us tnx
If you click on the "Interviews" tab below the video player (the second tab) and scroll down you will see all 5 chapters. Just click on Chapter 5 to play.
I noticed she talked about everyone she ever worked with except for Betty White, which makes me a little sad...I guess its true that they didnt get along
This is so fabulous! Just listening to her speak about the past is just fascinating! What an amazing actress she was.
I just noticed the picture behind Bea's left shoulder (to our right) is of her as Maude and Bill Macy (Walter)
This is fascinating!
Could you post Parts 4 and 5, which seem to be missing? Would love to hear her talk about "Golden Girls"!
Post new comment