Was Rue made up to look older in Maude? In 1972 Rue was 38 and Bea was 50. In the show they are both the same age, 47. Both look better in The Golden Girls, Rue is very glamours as Blanche and Bea is somewhat softer as Dorothy and she's lost weight since playing Maude.

I agree that Rue and Bea looked good in Golden Girls. In fact, as you stated, both look better in Golden Girls. But even in Maude, I thought Rue looked younger than Bea, even if they were supposed to be the same age. Both women were attractive to me and I think were great actresses!

I think that Bea Arthur was entertaining and funny, but attractive she wasn't.

I found this picture on a Bea Arthur blog.

Is this really Bea Arthur ?

If it is,it is hard to believe it is her.

I think that Bea Arthur was entertaining and funny, but attractive she wasn't.

Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. I thought she was kind of hot in Maude, but then I find assertive bossy women, with good hearts, attractive. Totally agree Bea was very entertaining; her visit in AITF to take care of the Bunker's was priceless; definitely my favorite AITF ep.

I thought all the gals were nice looking in The Golden Girls, but Rue was really dolled up there, and believable as a 50ish woman who still had it going on. Sophia of course, wasn't made to be pretty, but Estelle, out of all of the makeup, was quite attractive.

That photo of Bea with the curly blond hair. It looks like the TVLAND awards parody they did of Sex in the City which Bea played Jessica Parkers role.