Catherine Zeta-Jones has paid a heartfelt tribute to Dame Angela Lansbury following her death. The Murder, She Wrote and Beauty and the Beast star has died at the age of 96.
The Bedknobs and Broomsticks actor passed away "peacefully in her sleep" on Tuesday, October 11, just days before her 97th birthday.
Catherine, 53, who appeared on Broadway alongside Angela has shared a series of photographs of the late star. The Oscar-winning actress, who hails from Swansea, said the pair's double act on stage will "forever be one of the joys" of her life.
Read more: Dame Angela Lansbury dies at the age of 96
In an emotional statement, Catherine wrote: "Dearest, Darling, Dame Angela Lansbury. May you Rest In Peace. Our Broadway double act will forever be one of the joys of my life.
"As the lights dim for you on 'The Great White Way' you shall glow forever in our hearts. Love you Angela, Catherine."
A statement from Angela's family on Thursday, October 11, read: "The children of Dame Angela Lansbury are sad to announce that their mother died peacefully in her sleep at home in Los Angeles at 1.30am today, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, just five days shy of her 97th birthday.
"In addition to her three children, Anthony, Deirdre and David, she is survived by three grandchildren, Peter, Katherine and Ian, plus five great grandchildren and her brother, producer Edgar Lansbury. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Peter Shaw."
London-born Lansbury was best known for her portrayal of mystery writer and amateur detective, Jessica Fletcher in the hit American crime drama series, Murder, She Wrote, which ran for 12 seasons from 1984-1996.
For the role, she received 10 Golden Globe nominations, winning four, along with nominations for 12 Emmy Awards, earning her the record for the most Golden Globe nominations and wins for Best Actress in a television drama series and the most Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Earlier big screen roles include All Fall Down and The Manchurian Candidate and she famously voiced the teapot Mrs Potts in the 1991 Disney film Beauty And The Beast. In her latter years she appeared in Nanny McPhee and Mrs Popper's Penguins. Lansbury made her final film appearance in the 2018 film Buttons: A Christmas Tale, starring alongside Dick Van Dyke. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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