Angela Lansbury was never one to fade quietly into the background. While many actors slow down with age, she did the opposite—continuing to dazzle on stage, screen, and in voice work well into her later years. Best known to many for Murder, She Wrote, Lansbury used her later roles to remind everyone that charm, grace, and gravitas don’t retire. Whether playing grand dames, mischievous matriarchs, or scene-stealing side characters, she brought heart, humor, and that unmistakable Lansbury presence to every performance. Here are 13 roles from her later years that prove she never stopped deserving applause.
1. Jessica Fletcher – Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)
This role wasn’t just iconic—it was groundbreaking. As Jessica Fletcher, Lansbury played a sharp, independent mystery writer who outwitted criminals and charmed everyone from small-town sheriffs to international suspects. She carried the show for 12 seasons and four follow-up TV movies with warmth and intelligence. To this day, The Guardian praises this production as a reliably good time, even feeling safe, despite the dangerous subject matter, thanks in significant part to Lansbury.
In a television landscape full of action heroes and tough guys, Jessica’s gentle determination stood out. Lansbury made brainpower and empathy look like superpowers, all while delivering one of the most consistent performances in TV history.
2. Mrs. Potts – Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Angela Lansbury lent more than her voice to Disney’s classic teapot—she gave it a soul. Her warm, maternal tone brought comfort and kindness to the enchanted castle. And when she sang the title ballad? Magic. Pure magic. Business Insider reveals that Lansbury recorded the film version of “Beauty and the Beast” in a single take, making this song not the titular track beautiful but remarkably impressive as well.
Her performance of “Beauty and the Beast” wasn’t just sweet—it was timeless, filled with gentle emotion that resonated across generations. It’s one of the most beloved voice roles in animation history, and she recorded it in a single take.
3. Mrs. Van Gundy – Nanny McPhee (2005)
As the intimidating, aristocratic aunt in Nanny McPhee, Lansbury played against type—and had a ball doing it. With her grand outfits, sharp tongue, and haughty attitude, she stole every scene she was in. According to The Independent, this film also helped Lansbury in a significant way after tragedy rocked her to her core.
She made Mrs. Van Gundy hilariously over-the-top without losing believability. It was a reminder that even late in her career, Lansbury could still surprise us—and make us laugh while doing it.
4. Aunt March – Little Women (2017 BBC adaptation)
Taking on the role of the wealthy and opinionated Aunt March, Lansbury brought authority and elegance to the screen. While the character is often portrayed as severe, her performance added nuance—a sharp wit beneath the stern exterior.
She balanced harshness with a touch of hidden affection, making the character more than just a grumpy elder. It was a pitch-perfect portrayal that showed Lansbury’s ability to add depth to even the briefest of roles.
5. Miss Marple – The Mirror Crack’d (1980)
Though she portrayed Miss Marple before Murder, She Wrote, this role aged beautifully with time. Playing Agatha Christie’s most famous detective, Lansbury brought a twinkle to the sharp-eyed sleuth.
Her Marple was clever, curious, and unflappable—qualities that she’d carry into Jessica Fletcher. It’s a quieter performance compared to some of her flashier roles, but it’s a masterclass in subtle command.
6. Mayor McGerkle – The Grinch (2018)
In her final feature film role, Angela Lansbury voiced the cheerful and commanding Mayor McGerkle in the animated Grinch reboot. Though her screen time was brief, her warm, distinctive voice added a note of elegance and joy to Whoville’s spirited leader. She gave McGerkle the perfect blend of holiday cheer and civic pride, standing out even among the film’s bright, fast-paced energy.
It was a small role, but it carried that unmistakable Lansbury charm—gentle, witty, and full of heart. Even without being seen, she left a lasting impression, reminding us that her presence could elevate any story. As her last big-screen role, it was a fitting farewell—kind, dignified, and quietly unforgettable.
7. Ruth – The Pirates of Penzance (1980s stage productions)
Angela Lansbury brought comic timing and theatrical flair to the role of Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance. Though mostly remembered by stage audiences, her portrayal was energetic, precise, and completely captivating.
She balanced slapstick with sincerity, turning the character into a lovable oddball. Her stage experience shone through, reminding audiences that musical comedy is a serious art—and she was a master.
8. Edwina Brown – National Velvet (1944)
In National Velvet, a teenage Angela Lansbury played Edwina Brown, the older sister of Elizabeth Taylor’s horse-obsessed Velvet. Even early in her career, Lansbury had a screen presence that quietly commanded attention. Edwina wasn’t the center of the story, but Angela gave her a natural charm and sisterly warmth that grounded the film’s family dynamic.
She played Edwina with just the right balance of maturity and youth, offering glimpses of the poised woman she would later become onscreen. Looking back, it’s easy to see the early signs of the grace and subtlety that defined her later work. National Velvet may have launched Elizabeth Taylor, but Lansbury’s performance was an early gem in a career that would sparkle for decades.
9. Salome Otterbourne – Death on the Nile (1978)
As a drunken romance novelist in the Agatha Christie classic, Lansbury went delightfully big. Her portrayal of Salome Otterbourne was loud, nosy, and perfectly unfiltered—quite the departure from her usual prim roles.
She made the most of every slurred word and dramatic pause, chewing scenery with joy. It’s one of her most fun performances—and a fan favorite.
10. Eleanor Iselin – The Manchurian Candidate (1962 – re-evaluated in her later years)
Though technically from earlier in her career, this role gained even more admiration as Lansbury aged. As the cold, manipulative mother in The Manchurian Candidate, she was terrifyingly good. Audiences who knew her later for warm roles looked back at this with fresh awe.
The sharp control, emotional precision, and chilling power of the performance only grew more impressive with time. It reminded everyone that Angela Lansbury had range—and lots of it.
11. Mrs. Harris – Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris (1992 TV Movie)
Lansbury’s portrayal of a humble London charwoman with dreams of owning a Dior dress was heartwarming and quietly powerful. She made Mrs. Harris’s determination feel both whimsical and grounded, with dignity in every step.
The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination and gave audiences another chance to see her shine in a tender, leading role later in life. It’s one of her most underrated gems.
12. Sibyl Vane – The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
Angela Lansbury’s turn as the doomed Sibyl Vane in The Picture of Dorian Gray was a revelation. Her delicate performance as the innocent actress who falls for Dorian captured all the heartbreak and fragility the role demanded. Her rendition of “Goodbye, Little Yellow Bird” was hauntingly beautiful, filled with quiet emotion that lingered long after the scene ended.
The role earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win, all before she turned 20. Even in a film filled with lush visuals and heavy themes, it was Lansbury’s gentle, tragic performance that stayed with audiences. Watching it now, it’s clear that this was not just a rising star—but an actress of rare, enduring depth.
13. Aunt Agatha – Buttons: A Christmas Tale (2018)
In this lesser-known holiday film, Lansbury narrated and appeared as the warm-hearted Aunt Agatha, offering a message of hope and love. It was a role tailor-made for her: tender, wise, and just a little magical.
It ended up being one of her final on-screen roles, and it’s a fitting one—she seemed to glide through it with grace, like a storyteller tucking you in for the night. It’s a small, sweet performance that lingers.
Angela Lansbury’s later years weren’t a slow fade—they were a graceful crescendo. She kept surprising us, making us smile, and reminding us that greatness doesn’t age—it deepens. Every one of these roles, no matter how small, was another reminder that when Angela Lansbury was on screen, you were in the presence of something truly special.
