This week’s Star Magazine has a really nice interview with America’s octogenarian darling, Betty White. As we heard last week, Betty White recently landed a two book deal through which she’ll write her memoirs. She also has a flourishing career with roles on Hot in Cleveland, Community and the upcoming comedy film You Again, also starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Kristen Bell. In Star Betty says that she refuses to joke about pot smoking, (which she calls “dope”!) and that she has a crush on 74 year-old Robert Redford. I love Betty and it’s so nice to hear more from her. Here’s her interview in Star:
Congrats about winning the Emmy for your Saturday Night Live appearance. I’m thrilled. I was asked to host years ago and said, “Thank you, but no thank you.” I was afraid I’d feel like a fish out of water. But this time, there was a campaign on Facebook from the fans, which really touched my heart. I decided to just make it fun and not ignore that at my age it was amazing to be asked. My biggest fear was that the print wouldn’t be big enough on the cue cards!
How does it feel to have so many new fans? Fifteen-year-olds tell me, “Betty, you really rock,” and I’ll respond, “How do you even know me? You weren’t even born when I was on my shows!”
What’s your role in You Again?
It’s an amazing and funny comedy. I’m the one who sets everyone straight.Do you have any rules of comedy?
I don’t do dope jokes. I don’t think dope’s funny or fun. My characters won’t smoke.Are you surprised how popular you’ve become recently?
I can’t get over what’s going on with my life and career, I’m an old broad! All I can do is roll with the punches, enjoy it and be grateful for it.After your husband, Allen Ludden, passed away in 1981, why did you never remarry?
Why marry again when you had the best? I had a marriage where we enjoyed our lives together and made each other laugh every single day.Do you have any celebrity crushes?
The hottest man in Hollywood remains Robert Redford. I’ve never met the man, but I just enjoy fantasizing about him completely!
[From Star Magazine, print edition, September 6, 2010]
That’s sweet what she said about her husband and I love that she calls Robert Redford hot! I’m sure he’d love to meet her. Someone should arrange that for them. Robert Redford just married his girlfriend, but I think he would be flattered and would at least have dinner with her.
Betty also penned an article for The Hollywood Reporter on her first Emmy win back in 1952. She writes that back then “There were no photographers and no red carpet. You just got out of your car and walked into the dinner.” She was up against Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Zsa Zsa was expected to win and even pushed out her chair to get up before everyone was shocked when Betty’s name was announced instead. Betty has since won five more primetime Emmys and a daytime Emmy. She writes that “you never get used to it. I got nominated again this year for outstanding guest star for “Saturday Night Live” and I’m thrilled! My friend Tina Fey is nominated in my category too and she sent me this big bouquet of roses and tulips and a card.
‘Dear Betty,’ it said, ‘Congratulations on your nomination. Please try to mention my name in your acceptance speech.‘”
Everybody loves Betty.
Photos of Betty are from 6/14 and 5/4/10. Robert Redford is shown on 4/20/09. Credit: WENN.com
I really didn’t think I could adore this woman more than I already did, but it turns out I totally can. What a gem!
I am loving today; all of my fav people are being posted about. yay betty <3
I hope she stays with us for a long time to come, and her comments on her husband made me fuzzy; I read them to my husband and he called me a nerd but whatever, I know he loved that sh-t, too. Anyway, she is so fabulous. Loves her.
Does anyone watch Hot in Cleveland? It is pretty funny!
Yay for Betty!!!
Shame on Robert for not giving Betty a call they could have alot of fun (LOL)
so hope rr calls her & they have lunch with pics for all of us to see!
This is a little weird. There are commercials for Hot in Cleveland that are running now where Betty White makes a dope joke. I don’t have an issue with it but its odd that she would make a statement like that with the commercials still running…
@Jasmin, you’re right. I only watched the first episode, but she had a couple of lines about pot smoking in it. I love Betty and have no problem with pot references, but I’ve heard her say this before and it annoys me.
Yeah, I saw that pot smoking joke that Betty did on like the very first episode of Hot in Cleveland too!! She comes out and the one girl says “I smell something funny.” or something like that and Betty says “Are you a cop?”…and she says “No.”…and then Betty says, “Well then it’s none of your business.”
So it’s strange she made that comment about not doing “dope” jokes. *scratches head*
“Dope” = “Horse” = “Heroin” from the lexicon of Betty’s time. She said that she wouldn’t do jokes about dope (heroin) and that she wouldn’t smoke (cigarettes).
I love me some Betty, too! I’m so glad she’s continuing to work and make new fans.
The season finale of Hot In Cleveland explains the pot jokes – no spoilers, but apparently they could smell a special silver polish Elka used. I love that show, and I’m super-happy Betty decided to return next season. 🙂
The pot jokes are in pretty much every episode of HIC.
Good to have an older actress who isn’t behaving like a skank or talking about finding babies disgusting.
You know what would be awesome, if those two sat down for a interview with
‘Interview’ magazine. Keep the photo shoot simple and have two legends just talk about their awesome careers. They got about 100 years between them. Then the magazine can get away from those ridiculous covers they have been doing lately, and remember that there are people you can interview over 45.
S Im confused about the no pot jokes. She jokes about pot on Hot in Cleveland -Her character is a closet pot head on the show. Oh but then they changed it to make it seem like the smell was just jewelry polish-oh brother!!!
tiffany: i agree w/ you. that would be awesome. 🙂
I love Betty White dearly and hope she lives to be at least 120! I know it will break the world’s heart when she passes on and joins her beloved husband in heaven.
The producers should arrange somehow a way to surprise Betty by presenting Robert Redford to her, we would all love to see her reaction.
Dope does not automatically mean pot. It’s also been used to describe other, harder drugs and I think that might be what Betty meant.