We know what you’re thinking: A new interview with Angela Lansbury about her work in the original Beauty and the Beast?

Yes indeed, because the film is about to be re-released in 3D!

Lansbury spoke to The Los Angeles Times about playing Mrs. Potts:

Was it challenging to imbue a teapot with charm?

I think the way you approach her is as a little fat woman who was the cook and who happened to be in the guise of a teapot for the purposes of an animated movie by the Disney Studios. Consequently you attack it purely as a whole person, not that she’s made of china or that she’s breakable but that she’s a little busy, fat, overweight lady who’s a bit of a charmer, who cares very much about her little boy and is a strong member of the workforce at the castle. You play a whole person.

Was this animated role your highest-profile one to date?

Absolutely. It’s high on my list of credits, as they say. Funnily enough, I was looking at the Turner Classic Movies [site] this month as the star of the month, and I was looking at all the things that I’ve done, and you realize that this is the one and only time in which I was able to play a very warm, cuddly, little person who’s a teapot, and it’s not included in the group of movies, sadly. But nevertheless, it did strike me as I was reading through, and I thought to myself, “Thank goodness, I’m so grateful to Disney for letting me do this.”

Read more with the actress at this link where she discusses other projects she has going on!