With an extensive career on the stage, Estelle Getty had more than proven her mettle as a comedic actor when she was cast as Sophia Petrillo in The Golden Girls. Even so, her character proved to be a fan-favorite and the source of plenty of comedic moments throughout the series.

“I get my share of zingers,” said Getty, during an interview with the Daily Times-Advocate. “My character has recovered from a stroke, and says the first thing that comes into her head. She’s not senile in any way.”

Despite being familiar with stardom, television provided a second life for Getty.

Watch The Golden Girls on MeTV!

BACK-TO-BACK EPISODES

Weeknights at 10 PM, Sundays at 6 PM & 8 PM

*available in most MeTV markets

“It’s changed my life now because I work days instead of nights,” said the actor. “It was all nights on the stage. I tend to look different in everything I do because I play so many character roles, and this is one of them.”

Moreover, starring in a television series not only refreshed Getty’s career but also opened her up to a whole new generation of fans.

“I got The Golden Girls,” said the actor. “I thought a lot of people knew who I was, but I was wrong. Do they know me now? More people saw the first show of the series than my entire life on the stage.”

Luckily, because Getty was aged up with hair and makeup during filming, she was able to separate her professional life from her personal one.

“One thing about being a character actor or actress is you can be a star, but keep your private life at the same time,” said the actor. “I have played character actors my own age, in addition to older, and when I can play the same age, I can be more of me. Acting was all I ever wanted to do. I played the character actor because they never gave me the love interest.”