Who’s the sexiest Golden Girl? Bea Arthur! With Season One on DVD, we had some Girl talk with Bea.

What was your favorite part about working on The Golden Girls?

I think the relationship between Sophia and me was one of the greatest comedic duos I have ever seen. Sophia, because she had some kind of stroke or something, could say anything she wanted. It was just delicious.

Who would you say was the sexiest Golden Girl?

You know, I really don’t know. It never entered my mind.

Have you ever considered yourself a sex symbol?

That’s a terrible question to ask anyone! But I guess so, in a strange way. The character Maude had been married five times, so I guess that makes her some kind of sex symbol.

Did you know you have a cultlike following among college students?

As a matter of fact, I sometimes think I’m Britney Spears. I have become a bit of a cult figure. I have become kind of a gay icon as well.

Do you think of yourself as edgy?

I hate bullshit. I’m a bubble pricker; I like the idea of breaking facades. I will never be as outspoken as Maude was. First of all, I am not that political—I spend a lot of time debating whom I’m going to vote for.

Speaking of being a bubble pricker, you had a bit of an incident in 2004 with security at Boston’s Logan Airport…

Oh, my God! Shall I tell you what happened? In my purse, which I had been carrying from L.A., they found a Swiss Army knife. I couldn’t figure out how the hell it got there. Knowing who I was, they let me go. But I was very concerned. It made all the papers. It was a tiny little thing—it couldn’t have hurt anybody—but how the hell did it get in my bag?

Are you aware there are Web sites calling for you to become president?

Oh, Lord. It’s interesting, isn’t it? The power of television. My God, who ever dreamed?

Would you have a platform?

Of course not. When we were doing Maude, I was always asked to think of a plot line. One day I looked in the mirror and I said, “How about we do something about a facelift?” That’s the only subject I ever came up with.

How do you feel about television now?

I love The Daily Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm. But I’m really a nut for movies from the ‘50s. Last night I watched All About Eve at three in the morning.

Is there a career moment you wish people forgot?

I did Saturday Night Live in the ‘70s, and they simply did not know how to write for me. It really was an embarrassment.

…And The Star Wars Holiday Special?

You know, I did it with Harvey Korman, and then I just forgot about it. And I still get mail about it. I didn’t even know that it had anything to do with Star Wars. I still don’t understand what the hell I was doing there selling drinks to all these people with funny-looking heads.

Did you ever think, I really want to be an action hero?

Oh, no. Like every woman, I always wanted to be a ballet dancer.

What have you been up to lately?

I went to Sacramento to get the legislature to pass a bill banning the production of foie gras. I hope you know something about the force-feeding of ducks and geese.

Is there any special message you’d like to convey to our readers?

I guess I want to thank everyone for whatever the hell they are doing. Be nice to each other, my God. And have a little compassion for things that can’t speak for themselves. Most of all, enjoy life. I really am getting teary here.

Interview by Scott Stein, from Maxim magazine, January 2005