Estelle Getty was truly one of a kind. An actor who began her career as a young lady, Getty delighted in her craft.

“I started acting when I was five years old,” said Getty during an interview with The Birmingham News. “I’ve been in love with it ever since.”

Prior to her work on television, Getty was primarily an actor on the stage. While her roles didn’t necessarily earn her the notoriety that came with working as a Hollywood actor, Getty didn’t mind. She loved acting for the creative opportunities instead of the renown.

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“I’ve originated a lot of roles for a lot of playwrights,” said the actor. “Most of the plays haven’t been popular, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been good. I specialize in doing things that haven’t been done before. I love creating original characters.”

Of course, Getty would achieve the best of both worlds, a mix of creative fulfillment and fame, when she was cast as Sophia Petrillo in The Golden Girls.

“I think I have a good one in Sophia,” said the actor. “I know this lady I’m playing. She’s feisty, irreverent, and intractable. She’s partly me and partly my imagination, but she’s an original - and that’s what I’ve been playing all of my life - original characters.”