Yes, the celebrated actress is just as sweet as she appears on TV!
By Lindsey Leake
White smiles for the press before the book signing. | Photo by Lindsey Leake
On Friday, May 18, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park played host to television and film veteran Betty White during a public book signing. White, a lifelong animal lover and advocate of animal welfare, seemed right at home in a cozy nook of the park called Zoo In Your Backyard. Roughly 200 guests—from infants to oldsters—wove their way through a lush, green garden pathway up to the wooden canopy where White sat, happily signing copies of “Betty & Friends: My Life at the Zoo” and “If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t).”
The early afternoon affair felt less like a publicity stunt featuring a timeless Hollywood figure and more like the homecoming of a dear old friend. There was excitement for sure, but no drama—just loyal, affable fans waiting patiently in the springtime sun for the chance to share a few moments with the woman who brought Sue Ann Nivens, Rose Nylund, Elka Ostrovsky and countless other memorable characters to life. It was as though White, 90, had leapt directly from the small screen into our presence, her wisdom and kindness radiating throughout the crowd.
White signed up to two books per guest. | Photo by Lindsey Leake
White genuinely seemed just as eager to meet each of her fans as they were to greet her. She took the time to sign two books for and briefly chat with each pre-registered guest, but was especially pleased to meet the park’s many zookeepers. White’s passion for animals shone through as she asked each zoo employee about his or her specialty and discussed the plants and animals they worked with.
Whether due to the picture-perfect weather or the cheery atmosphere White’s presence evoked throughout the exhibit, the 90-minute book signing went by in a flash. Cameras and phones themselves flashed almost constantly, as each guest wanted to capture his or her moment with one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses, and playful shouts of “I love you, Betty!” echoed every ten minutes or so as the line snaked through the garden.
Betty White and I share a laugh. | Photo by Jennifer Zoon
Full disclosure: I’m a huge Betty White fan (think about it; do you know anyone who isn’t?). And thanks to my press pass, I was fortunate enough to be able to stand under the exhibit’s canopy with White for nearly two hours. When just a handful of fans remained, I was allowed to hop in the end of the line and became the last fan she would meet during the event. I hadn’t had time to wait in line and purchase White’s books before the signing, but I’d planned ahead and brought along my season one copies of Hot in Cleveland and The Golden Girls (no matter that the show first aired years before I was born; it’s a hilarious classic!).
I became slightly worried when a park employee warned me that, due to the promotional nature of the event, White may not be willing to sign my DVDs in lieu of her books, but it turned out that she was glad to do so. When the time finally came for Betty White and I to meet face-to-face, I wasn’t nervous, speechless or star-struck, as I’d imagined I’d be in the presence of such a highly-esteemed woman who I consider an idol. Instead, staring into the wizened, yet youthful face of the actress I suddenly felt like I’d known my whole life, I found myself relaxed and talking to White as if she were an old pal.
TV-on-DVD favorites made even more special! | Photo by Lindsey Leake
Signed DVDs in hand, I eventually had to tear myself away from White and reluctantly joined the throng of zoo-goers lining the park paths to see the star off in her chauffeured golf cart. With a few big waves and a final flash of America’s favorite smile, White was whisked away into the wooded depths of the zoo. And just like that, we were all abruptly shoved back into reality; the crowd dispersed and life in the park became business as usual. And me? I reached into my purse, pulled out the two DVDs and ran my right index finger across White’s Sharpie signature, smiling with the relief that it hadn’t all been a dream.
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Betty White’s National Zoo book signing, while open to the public, unsurprisingly reached maximum capacity the same day its online registration opened. But if you missed White on Friday, you can catch up with her tonight on TV Land during the Hot in Cleveland marathon starting at 8 p.m.
