Betty White is covering Parade Magazine to celebrate her 96th(!) birthday, which is on January 17th. The cover image is so cute, featuring Betty blowing out 96 candles on an oversize birthday cake. Betty is still just as witty as ever, she still has a crush on screen icon Robert Redford, 81, and she still hasn’t met him. I’ve heard her say she loves Robert Redford so many times. Why have they not yet met? Someone needs to make this happen for her. She also tells Parade that she loves to work (she’s guesting on the show Young & Hungry on ABC) and she gives us advice to just “keep plugging away, don’t give up.” I love her and I’m so glad Parade chose to feature her. Here’s more.
Her career advice to newcomers in her industry
“You just keep plugging away, you don’t give up… Do your work, learn your lines and come in prepared. Don’t think you can wing it, because you can’t. We’re in show business, which is fun, but take your business seriously, because it is a serious business.”There’s little context to this next quote, they just say it’s her take on the industry
“I think the business is in pretty good shape; I don’t have to fix it. I will, but I don’t have to.”On how she feels appreciated
“I got an award for everything. Inhaling, exhaling . . . I’ve been so spoiled rotten.”How she wants to be remembered
“Warmly. I hope they remember something funny. I hope they remember a laugh.”On her love of animals
“I’m an only child and my mother and my dad loved [animals]. We had them as long as I could remember.”On if she’d like to repeat anything
“I don’t have time to miss much, because I’m still working. I just love to work, so I’ll keep working until they stop asking.”
I believe I would like to hear Betty’s take on #MeToo and the uncovering of the Hollywood harassment epidemic, but maybe she’s not at a point where she’s ready to talk about it. In the scheme of her very long career, the floodgates have only just opened on this story. I bet she has so many stories of her own and of the other women in her industry, many of whom may have since passed away. Given what she said in this interview I doubt she’ll say anything publicly.
Betty is still deeply committed to animal rights and well being through her charity work. She currently has a golden retriever named Pontiac, whom she calls “the star of the house.” OMG Betty White has an Instagram! It only occurred to me to check it after learning she had a dog and here Pontiac is, he looks like such a good boy!
As for her approach to life, I’m going to get a dog and keep working as long as I can. If that’s the secret to longevity count me in.
God I adore this woman.
Me too. I love her so much. Seeing her face makes me smile
She’s a real treasure gotta love her:)
I literally fall asleep to the Golden Girls every night. It’s like white noise for me. I never tire of the show and still find it hilarious after thousands of viewings. In a weird way, it makes sense that “Rose” is the last one standing. God Bless Betty.
Same here. I couldn’t have made it through college without The Golden Girls and The Nanny.
That show is a classic and each one of those four glorious Golden Girls is iconic, IMHO. It’s astonishing to me how well it holds up and how funny it remains even after all these years.
My daughter loves the Golden Girls. She named 4 of her chickens after the characters on the show.
I do that too every single night 🙂 At the moment it is The Case of the Libertine Bell episode that I fall asleep to. “No-one in my family ever… EVER left a body to be found”
It’s my background noise too, I’ve been streaming it on hulu. I’m almost to the end and decided to start over again at the beginning when I am!
*leaves Celebitchy to find and follow Betty’s Instagram*
Awwww! She and Pontiac are awesome!
I can’t have pets any longer. Husband and kids are highly – like ER – allergic
Back during her MTMoore days, I thought she was a raging beyotch.
Golden Girls, she was a dumber than a bowl of mice but she was a character actor!
Now, I love her.
I have some kitchen curtains somewhere in a closet with that Ivy wallpaper pattern on it.
That was popular in the ’80s.
I can’t remember the designer but she/he was huge at the time.
Betty for president! I kid, I kid.
Sort of.
She is such a delight! She looks incredible and is sharp as a tack. I am not sure I want to hear her thoughts on #MeToo. Especially after Angela Lansberry. I don’t want Betty to be tainted in !y mind like so many other icons have been lately.
Yup, Betty White feels like the last bastion of hope and happiness in a landscape of utter garbage in Hollywood, don’t think I could take the thought that she’s a Lansbury. Which was also disappointing.
This. I love her, but older people tend to have certain bad, dated ideas. I had to listen to my aunt the other day, who was talking about how those #MeToo women were asking for it. What, in general? Yes, in general.
Best not to ask, really.
Boy, do I know what you mean Ankhel. I grew up with a steps grandfather who would continually use the N word in front of me. He did this even after my 16 year old self repeatedly asked him to stop.
You cannot cure some people of their hatred and/or ignorance. It’s best not to try but instead deem them irrelevant.
I agree but certainly much of our behaviour will be viewed the same way one day. I think it is best to respect the opinions of your elders even if you do not agree. We all grow up in different worlds and nowadays things change quickly.
Betty did a lot for women on tv. And I’m sure she knows a lot. But she is enjoying her golden years and i wouldn’t wanna hear painful memories she probably burried long time ago
That’s right, Milla! Thanks for reminding me of that! She fought for equal pay! I bet Betty is on the side of righteousness.
She definitely seems to want to be positive and enjoy her time. If she decides to speak up, I’ll gladly listen, but if she wants to focus on love, laughs and animals, let’s let her.
Love her 🙂
She is fabulous!! I lover her.
I thought her name was legally changed to National Treasure Betty White decades ago.
Huh.
I pulled the page up, saw Betty’s photo, and gasped. You almost gave me a heart attack! I thought she had passed, and you were reporting on it!
She is such an inspiring person and I admire her for being a positive mentor for women and for her charity work for animals. Lives her life to the fullest in an unselfish way – and with spirit and gusto! Refreshing lack of obvious ego too. We need more public figures like Betty.
Love Betty. Happy Birthday Lady 🙂
& love that cake too.
I hope she lives to be 106 and in perfect health.
Betty’s classic:
“Why do men say grow some balls? Balls are weak and fragile. They should grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding!”
LOL That’s hysterical. Love me some Betty.
She is a national treasure!
She’s awesome
I READ THAT NAME AND THOUGHT SHE’D DIED! Don’t scare me girl!