Estelle Getty played the beloved and hilarious Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls. If you’ve ever seen Getty in her legendary role, it may interest you to know that behind those brilliant performances, the actress was just a bundle of nerves.
That’s right, Estelle Getty got really anxious before filming. We’re all super glad that in the end, Getty nailed it.
The Set Had Been Used Before
Everyone who has tuned in to an episode of the show is familiar with that kitchen set. What many people don’t know is that the set was actually used for another hit show in the ‘80s - It Takes Two. When that series came to an end, The Golden Girls got it.
After a total ‘make-over’ it became the kitchen that we know and love.
Bea Sincerely Disliked Her Character’s Sense of Fashion
Bea Arthur played the funny and blunt Dorothy Zbornak. While there were perhaps some similarities between the character and the real-life Bea, one thing they did not share was a sense of style. In fact, Bea, whose ears weren’t pierced at the time, wore gigantic clip-on earrings in nearly every scene.
Arthur complained that the large accessories hurt her earlobes, saying that they could get pretty uncomfortable when filming for hours on end.
But Rue on The Other Hand…
While Bea wasn’t a fan of her costume wardrobe on the show, Rue McClanahan was simply delighted with hers. In fact, Rue, who famously portrayed Blanche on The Golden Girls, took all of her's home!
McClanahan even had the stipulation added to her contract.
The Ladies Almost Had a Butler
In the first-ever episode of the show, the girls had been blessed with a live-in chef and housekeeper. Unfortunately, the creators of the show decided against the continuing with the character, and he never appeared again.
No worries, the ladies seemed to do perfectly fine without him!