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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Alan Johnson

Angela Lansbury 'broke the rules' when recording voice for Beauty and the Beast songs

The late Angela Lansbury revealed she 'broke the rules' when recording her voice for the role of Mrs Potts in Disney's 1991 movie, Beauty and the Beast.

Speaking last year, the actress, who passed away at the age of 96 on Tuesday, discussed the production process of the double Oscar winning film, in which she solo sang it's renowned track, 'Tale As Old As Time'.

The Hollywood veteran, who played the enchanted teapot, said she avoided standard procedure when recording in a bid to stay focussed.

"They watch our body language when we're talking," she explained to Hollywood Outbreak. "I was a bit naughty about that and I wouldn't let them photograph me when I was singing the song because I knew it would put me off.

"You have to put the blinkers on when you're doing something as specific as that. I wasn't performing the song - I was doing it specifically for the movie and I wouldn't let them photograph me doing it. So they didn't have the benefit of seeing me singing."

She continued: "If they had then maybe they would have been able to add a few funny things. I make the most awful faces when I'm singing."

Met with universal acclaim, the picture was the first animated film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Whilst unsuccessful, it did scoop two Academy Awards in the categories of Best Original Score and Best Original Song for 'Beauty and the Beast'.

The star then went on to discuss another hit from the movie's soundtrack - Be Our Guest - performed by American actor Jerry Orbach (who played candlestick Lumiere) alongside herself.

Angela revealed her love for the song Be Our Guest (Getty Images)
Angela became a household name thanks to Murder She Wrote, in which she played Jessica Fletcher (Getty Images)

The Howard Ashman and Alan Menken composition, was clearly one of her favourite tracks.

"I thought it was smashing," she said. "Be Our Guest I think is a great number. It's so funny, witty and imaginative and original - all those good things.

"I think Howard and Alan in the first place with their lyrics created the scene. And Jerry Orbach's contribution is enormous. He was absolutely hilarious."

Angela, who became a household name for her portrayal of Jessica Fletcher in crime drama series Murder She Wrote, died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles according to her family.

"The children of Dame Angela Lansbury are sad to announce that their mother died peacefully in her sleep at home in Los Angeles at 1:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, just five days shy of her 97th birthday," they said in a statement.

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