Malcolm Turnbull pays tribute to Angela Lansbury while revealing surprising link to the late star

Following the passing of legendary stage and screen icon, Angela Lansbury, tributes poured in from across the globe from both fans, the entertainment community and even our very own former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who revealed a little-known connection to the late star.

Taking to Twitter, the former leader paid tribute to the late star with a photo of him alongside Lansbury when she was performing in Driving Miss Daisy at the Theatre Royal Sydney in 2013.

Referring to Lansbury as ‘Auntie Angela’, Turnbull revealed that the late star is his cousin. Reportedly Lansbury is a distant cousin of Turnbull’s on his mother’s side.

“Thank you Angela for the joy & love you have shared with all the world all your life,” he wrote.

“You first dazzled me when I was 4 & you were Aunty Angela making a movie in Australia.

“In later years we always had politics & showbiz to talk and laugh about. Rest In Peace dear Angie.”

Thank you Angela for the joy & love you have shared with all the world all your life. You first dazzled me when I was 4 & you were Aunty Angela making a movie in Australia. In later years we always had politics & showbiz to talk and laugh about. Rest In Peace dear Angie. https://t.co/DOKRcn0hw9

— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) October 11, 2022

Lansbury, who was just as adept at bringing a teapot to life in Beauty and the Beast as she was portraying mystery novelist Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote passed away “peacefully” at the age of 96.

Lansbury’s family confirmed her passing in a statement obtained by People.

“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,”  the statement read.

“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 proceeded in death by her husband of 53 years, Peter Shaw.  A private family ceremony will be held at a date to be determined.”

Lansbury was best known for her iconic role as crime-solving novelist Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote. The series ran for 12 seasons from September 30, 1984 to May 19, 1996 proving to be a ratings hit during its impressive run.

For her role as Fletcher, Lansbury was nominated for ten Golden Globes and won four, she was also nominated for 12 Emmy Awards which saw her claim 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.

Lansbury is survived by three children and her brother, producer Edgar Lansbury, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren