Dame Angela Lansbury, legendary star of stage and screen (including my all-time favorite Disney movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks), was interviewed by British Radio Times this week promoting her appearance in BBC’s upcoming adaptation of Little Women. After the subject of sexual assault was brought up, 92-year-old Lansbury delivered a take that feels, hm, about 92 years old.
“We have to own up to the fact that women, since time immemorial, have gone out of their way to make themselves attractive,” she said. “And unfortunately it has backfired on us—and this is where we are today.”
Lansbury continued:
“We must sometimes take blame, women. I really do think that. Although it’s awful to say we can’t make ourselves look as attractive as possible without being knocked down and raped.”
The actress then attempted to walk back those victim-blamey remarks by adding that women “shouldn’t have to be” prepared for this.