Now that you have read the article about Betty White on pages 8-9 of English Now N°122, watch this BBC video and read the transcription to learn more about her life and death.
“The legendary American actor and comedian Betty White has died at the age of 99. Her career spanned decades. Beginning in radio and the earliest days of television, she’ll probably be best remembered for her portrayal of Rose Nylund in the sitcom ‘The Golden Girls’. Gail McLellan reports.
-Rose, is this another one of these Scandinavian Viking concoctions?
-Yes! It’s called Genurken-flürken cake!
Betty White’s performance as the ditsy Rose earned her an Emmy, and the hearts of generations of fans. ‘The Golden Girls’, which ran from 1985 to 1992, a top-rated series of its time, featured an age demographic rarely highlighted on television. Betty White was the last surviving member, now she too has gone, just days before her 100th birthday.
She began her entertainment career in radio and later appeared in television variety shows, and in a sitcom, ‘Life with Elizabeth’, which she also produced. She reached a new level of success on ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ where she played the role of Sue Ann Nivens and won two Emmys. As she says, she never stopped working.
‘I’ve been working in this wonderful business for 63 years now and I’m so lucky to be as busy as I am. But as long as it keeps coming…I’m always worried about overexposure, so I’ll say no when they stop asking me! So, if you want me to retire, stop asking me!’
But she gained a new audience with a popular role on the Sandra Bullock film, THE PROPOSAL. Her co-star, Ryan Reynolds, who called her his ex-girlfriend, reacted to news of her death: ‘The world looks different now. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We’ll miss you, Betty.’ Ellen DeGeneres said, ‘I’m grateful for every second I got to spend with Betty White.’ And Oprah Winfrey added her appreciation.
‘You know, the only thing that hurts me: why did they wait to do this ‘til I was 90? I mean, a few decades ago would have been swell! Honey, snap out of it! Okay, she’s just beautiful!’
Said to be one of the nicest women in show business, she was honoured with eight Emmys, one of them a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and was still making films into her late nineties. Betty White died just 17 days short of her 100th birthday.
The legendary American actor and comedian Betty White who’s died at the age of 99.”