Betty White’s Best Roles, Ranked By Likability

The many characters that Betty White has played in her decade-long career can be ranked according to how likable they are.
There are few actresses who are quite as beloved and iconic as the late Betty White. In her many decades working in the film and television industry, she has shown a tremendous knack for creating characters that are so rich and authentic that they capture viewers’ hearts. What’s more, she has also shown that she has the ability to deliver a line that can either be uproariously funny or deeply poignant.
She has originated many roles and iconic characters – though each one is varied and with its own unique flaws, many of them are extremely likable as well as relatable. From a brief appearance in That ’70s Show to her iconic role in The Golden Girls, White has played some thoroughly likable women on film and TV.
Bea Sigurdson – That ’70s Show
That ’70s Show is widely considered as one of the best sitcoms of the 1990s and 2000s, and with good reason, since it managed to not only have a strong central cast but also many important secondary characters. One of the most notable of those was Bea Sigurdson, Kitty’s mother.

What makes Bea such a fascinating character is that, at first, she seems quite likable – with that signature Betty White smile – but underneath that she is capable of delivering withering remarks to her daughter. However, she’s still a charming character expertly portrayed by White, which ends up making her somewhat likable despite her mean streak.
Ellen Harper – Mama’s Family
Even though it hasn’t become as canonical as some other best sitcoms from the 1980s, Mama’s Family still has the power to make the audience laugh. White had a recurring role in the series as Ellen, Thelma’s very snobby daughter who loved to look down on her family and their foibles.

However, despite the fact that she was capable of being very meaningful to the rest of her relations, there’s no doubt that she was still likable enough to keep engaged and on side, if only because she was played by Betty White.
Delores Bickerman – Lake Placid
After her success as Rose Nylund in The Golden Girls, Betty White became newly famous for a number of guest appearances in various movies, including a scene-stealing role as Delores Bickerman in the horror-comedy Lake Placid.

From the moment she appears she demonstrates that she isn’t a woman to be taken lightly, and she is quite capable of sassing anyone who gets in her way or tries to talk down to her. As a result, she emerges as one of Betty White’s most likable, if not highly irascible, characters.
Dr. Beth Mayer – Bones
Bones is one of the most iconic procedural series on television and, of course, Betty White made an indelible impression as her character Beth Mayer.
There are many things that make Dr. Mayer one of Betty White’s most likable characters. Perhaps most notably is that she has had several husbands and doesn’t mind sharing some of the most intimate details about her past relationships (the character clearly has a lot in common with Blanche from The Golden Girls) – which is an endearing trait in someone from an older generation.
Catherine Piper – Boston Legal
During the later stages of her career, White made guest appearances in various shows, including Boston Legal. Even though she was a short-lived run on the show, she made quite an impression as the character Catherine Piper, an employee of Crane, Poole, and Schmidt.

As is often the case with White, her character is vivid, forced to obey the traditional or stereotypical rules that one associates with older women in particular. In addition, fans saw Catherine get into all sorts of trouble – including robbing convenience stores and committing murder – and they are still rooted for her. For her bold and likable personality, White even named Catherine as one of her five favorite roles according to EW.
Grandma Annie – The Proposal
Betty White’s role in the romantic comedy The Proposal, one of the best rom-com movies of the 2000s, was one that helped to reignite her career and return her to her well-deserved status as America’s sweetheart.

What was especially notable about her take on this role was that she managed to combine her signature sweetness with a sharp wit that was as finely tuned as a razor. In this role, although relatively small compared to others in White’s filmography, she shown why she continues to be seen as one of the most likable actresses, able to dazzle with just a simple smile and a well-delivered line.