Betty White is one of Hollywood's most beloved icons, and she's finally let us in on her secret to staying young at heart.
Now, the celebrated actress has enjoyed a staggering career in her almost ninety-nine-years...
via: Getty
Let's take a quick look, shall we?It started all the way back in the late 1930s.
#TheSecretToStayingYoung
— Eric Little (@SoCalEricLittle) January 10, 2021
Be Betty White. pic.twitter.com/voQUYkDIvO
The star was born on January 17, 1922, in Oak Park, Illinois, before moving to LA aged 2 - it was here where she would eventully work as an assistant at a local TV station.
But it wasn't until the early 1950s that she'd have her first taste of television...
Here, she developed the show, titled Life with Elizabeth with George Tibbles.#WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInComedy Betty White, best known as Sue on Mary Tyler Moore and Rose on The Golden Girls. Her own series, Life with Elizabeth was in 1952. She rcvd the Women's Int'l Center Living Legacy Award in 1988. At 88 1/2, she was the oldest person to host SNL. pic.twitter.com/lDxiIt6jvA
— Queen Bs (@ImprovsQueenBs) March 3, 2019
The show made White one of the first female producers in Hollywood...
"He wrote and I produced," White explained to The Hollywood Reporter. "I was one of the first women producers in Hollywood."Betty White in the 1950s for The Betty White Show and Life with Elizabeth. pic.twitter.com/DgJd4mcOik
— James Paul (@curiousjamesp) January 19, 2020
Interestingly...
The show's entire premise came from a sketch White had done previously on local television.Life with Elizabeth - 1953 -1955. Betty White won her 1st Emmy for starring in this series. BTW She was also the 1st woman to produce her own series. pic.twitter.com/gAyRJeD2g9
— sal@salstgeorge.com (@StGeorgeProd) August 29, 2020
But it wasn't until The Mary Tyler Moore Show when White's TV career got the huge boost it needed.
The actress starred as Sue Ann Nivens, the co-worker to the show's star, Mary Tyler Moore, in a Minneapolis television newsroom. Sue Ann was known for cracking funny, yet poignant quips at Moore's expense.Sue Ann Nivens, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. No argument. pic.twitter.com/Jx3OszC7Le
— J. L. J. Kennedy (@daphneheard) September 30, 2020
And it seemed her hard work paid off...
Because she won 2 Emmy's for her work on the hit series!The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered 50 years ago today.
— Michael Mackie (@M2Esq) September 18, 2020
Wait? What?! pic.twitter.com/gSflDsZYCb
And, as the '80s rolled around, White took on a role that was a sharp contrast from Sue Ann...
The role of sweet Rose Nylund on the popular sitcom The Golden Girls, along with co-stars Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Estelle Getty.Saturday Night Right 📺 #goldengirls #estellegetty #beaarthur #bettywhite #ruemcclanahan #thegoldengirls #tvguide pic.twitter.com/4IbwxWvMsU
— Betty White Noise (@BettyWhiteNoise) January 10, 2021
The show chronicled the lives of 4, elderly, female friends...
And to say it was a smash hit is an understatement. The series landed among the top-ranked shows during its 7 seasons on air and bagged several coveted awards.TV Land is doing a Best of Rose #GoldenGirls marathon next Sunday in honor of #BettyWhite's 99th birthday. 🎉🎈🥳🎂 pic.twitter.com/6oQ2vuMfy0
— Golden Girls Quotes (@GoldenGirls85) January 10, 2021
But sadly, in 1992, we waved a reluctant goodbye to the Golden Girls.
White enjoyed a steady television career, until 2010 that is, where, once again her wit saw her launch back into the spotlight.We all remember that candy bar ad during the 2010 Super Bowl, right?
Well, it quickly became a fan favorite and spurred White on to become the oldest person to ever host Saturday Night Live.She was reluctant to do the show at first...
via: Getty Images
"It was the scariest thing I've ever done. It was really funny stuff, but it was a challenge," she recently revealed to Newsweek.
2010 also saw White return to the series television...
She landed a role on the sitcom Hot in Cleveland, alongside stars Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, and Wendie Malick. At first, she only signed on for the pilot, but she later joined the cast permanently. "It's just a terrific show. The chemistry between the girls is so great," she told Newsweek at the time.The amazing Chris Colfer working with the legendary Betty White on Hot in Cleveland (Carol Burnett also in it) pic.twitter.com/e70z0BCeWf
— ~ (@chriwcolfer) January 31, 2016
White is now almost ninety-nine...
And she's made it clear she isn't going to be giving up acting anytime soon.guys Betty White is turning 99 in a few days and i just love her so much 🥺 pic.twitter.com/8fXEPa9blO
— notjess (@JesseNelson11) January 13, 2021
And there's one big reason for this...
Her charity work. The star is extremely passionate about animals and has worked with the Los Angeles Zoo as well as the Morris Animal Foundation for more than 4 decades. She previously revealed to the Hollywood Reporter: "I have to keep acting so that I can afford to keep doing my charity work!"Happy birthday to the queen @BettyMWhite !!💕💕💕 pic.twitter.com/ZuzK7hKbtk
— Valeska (@Valeskaaaa_) January 13, 2021
So, it's not hard to see why so many people love her.
She's such a mood.And now, White has revealed the secret to her long life.
via: Getty
And it's her sense of humor. She then added that it's also hot dogs and vodka, "probably in that order."
"Accentuate the positive, not the negative."
via: Getty
"It sounds so trite, but a lot of people will pick out something to complain about, rather than say, ‘Hey, that was great!’ It’s not hard to find great stuff if you look.""I am blessed with good health," she then noted simply, "so turning ninety-nine is no different than turning ninety-eight."
One thing that keeps her going?
"A sense of humor. Don't take yourself too seriously. You can lie to others - not that I would - but you cannot lie to yourself."
If you still need convincing as to why Betty is such an icon, scroll on to see how she celebrated her ninety-sixth birthday...