The London-born actress was 19 years old when she made her screen debut in the US psychological thriller Gaslight in 1944. She went on to star in stage productions, further films and TV shows but found worldwide fame in Murder, She Wrote at the age of 59. But Dame Angela, who turns 95 years old today, claimed that she couldn’t “take credit” for amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher’s surprising popularity with fans.
Dame Angela was forced to leave school between the age of 12 and 13, like many children during World War 2.
While she was homeschooled by her mother “for a little while”, she claimed to have learned the most from the arts.
The star said: “My real education came from getting out there and participating at a very young age in an extraordinary life of drama, excitement, movies and MGM Studios”.
At the age of 17, she signed a contract with MGM studios and two years later was cast in Gaslight alongside Ingrid Bergman.
Dame Angela continued: “Although I can’t take credit for being a great detective! She’s a pretty smart cookie – men like that in women, they really do, down the road.”
While she admitted she was “very grateful for” her success with Murder, She Wrote, the star felt she was doomed to be remembered only for that role.
The actress, who has savoured more than seven decades in showbusiness, was reported to be uncertain about her greatest achievement when asked by the Guardian in 2014.
After a few moment’s pause, Dame Angela fought off laughter as she pointed her finger in the air like John Travolta and started to sing: “Staying alive! Staying alive!”
