ANGELA LANSBURY

The Murder, She Wrote star, 92, returns to TV in the role of Aunt March in the Masterpiece adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women (May 13 on PBS).

Why is Little Women still

popular? It’s a universal story. In the case of [these] women, it has a certain quality that appeals to us today. Tell us about Aunt March. She was an eccentric, with her parrot, the way she ran her life and the way she doled out little bits of help to her nieces. She was a victim of her times, but she does the right thing at the end, even though she was a tough old broad along the way.

What was it about your

Murder, She Wrote character, Jessica Fletcher, that gave her a 12-season

run? I didn’t want her to be a character—I wanted her to be every woman. I think that’s what gave her the longevity. Every woman could connect with her, and every man could. She was a strong, real woman, and men like that in women.

You’re going to be in Mary Poppins Returns (Dec. 25) as the balloon lady. Well, it was just a lovely, brief moment at the very end. I get to sing a sweet song. I have a little scene with Mary Poppins [Emily Blunt] herself, so that made it very worthwhile. I took my granddaughter to England [during filming] and we had a wonderful time. Is there something you still hope to accomplish? Not really; just to grow old gracefully and to hopefully still be able to bring something positive to the lives around me, and to be remembered as an OK gal. I have a wonderful family. Being around them is the most exciting thing I’m involved in at the present time.