“Betty White is one of the sexiest women in America,” Robert Pattinson has been quoted as saying. And really, can you blame him? The actress and animal activist has had a storied career that’s won the admiration of fans for over seven decades. In her sixth book, “If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t),” White offers her take on everything from friendship and love to aging and the highlights of her career.
When did you first realize that you had a sense of humor?
Around the breakfast table with my mother and dad. They both had delicious senses of humor. And they’d never explain anything to me — you either caught on or you didn’t — and so it made you listen carefully. It was just wonderful.
This is your sixth book. What do you love about writing?
You have to be honest with yourself. It’s like playing a game. You don’t know where you’re going when a subject comes up and as you work it through you get some surprises. You also get a chance to go back and look it over, where with television it’s out of your mouth and it’s said.
Q&A: Time travel
Is there anything in your life that you wish you could change?
Oh, I’d bring Allen [Ludden, her husband who died in 1981] back in a heartbeat of course, but also I would change the first two bad marriages. I would know better now, but that’s what growing up is about. I find life is a fascinating adventure. Who would ever dream that at 89 years old — I’ll be 90 in January — that I’m having the biggest year of my career?
