‘Watch a Star War today’: Jessica Walter was the internet’s greatest gif – The Guardian

In an industry notoriously hostile to older women, ageing into your greatest roles is a remarkable achievement.

Jessica Walter, who died in her sleep at the age of 80, enjoyed steady work throughout her six-decade career in film and television. But it wasnt until she stepped into the tasteful kitten heels of Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development at the age of 62 that her talents as a comedic actor became widely celebrated.

Through her ability to embody upperclass notions of graceful ageing and then viciously undercut them with a single eye-roll or series of subtle winks she transformed herself into an icon, and one of the internets favourite avatars.

Even if youve never seen an episode of Arrested Development or the animated series Archer, where she plays a similarly stiff WASP mother with ice-cold martinis running through her veins it was impossible to be ignorant of her work.

All it took was a few scrolls on Twitter, or a glance at a gif-peppered listicle, and there she was, wondering about the price of bananas (What could it cost? $10?), heading to the hospital bar (and on hearing there isnt one: This is why people hate hospitals) or ordering family-restaurant Klimpys (I dont understand the question, and I wont respond to it).

Through Walters work, people found a way to express everything from joy to nihilism. She became a way of clapping back, shutting down and even celebrating.

A series of short, looping videos may not be considered a conventional legacy, but to convey so much in so little time is a mark of exceptional talent.

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'Watch a Star War today': Jessica Walter was the internet's greatest gif - The Guardian