Golden Girls Wiki
Advertisement
Golden Girls Wiki
The Golden Girls opening screenshot

Betty White as Rose Nylund
"It's like we say in St. Olaf, Christmas without fruitcake is like St. Sigmund's Day without the headless boy."

This article is incomplete. You can help the Golden Girls Wiki by expanding it.

Elizabeth Hollingsworth (née Bennett), sometimes referred to as Samantha Hollingsworth or Samantha Roquet, is a minor character in the 1985 NBC sitcom The Golden Girls'. She is the late wife of Curtis Hollingsworth and the late mother of Blanche and her siblings.

Elizabeth was mentioned numerous times throughout the series, but made her only physical appearance in the Season 3 episode "Mother's Day". She was played by veteran actress, the late Helen Kleeb.

Personality and Characteristics[]

Even while she suffered from Alzheimer's disease, Elizabeth strived to be a proper Southern lady.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Elizabeth was born Elizabeth Ann Bennett, to Granddaddy and Grandmama Bennett, in 1895 in Shreveport. At one point of her life, she met and married Curtis Hollingsworth and had five children; Theodore, Charmaine, Blanche, Clayton, and Virginia. The family spent their lives at the Hollingsworth plantation, Twin Oaks.

Motherhood[]

When her sister Lynette was going through menopause, Elizabeth told a young Blanche that Lynette was going through "the change".[1]

On Christmas Day 1949, Elizabeth and Curtis were tipped off by Old Man Montgomery that Blanche was attempting to elope with a much older man named Deck Bovenlough. Elizabeth and Curtis somehow ended up at the chapel before Blanche did -- and when faced with Blanche's staunch decision about marrying Deck, Elizabeth pretended to give them her blessing, knowing that Blanche would instantly lose interest in Deck if Elizabeth showed positive interest in him. True to her theory, Blanche broke up with Deck and went home with her parents. When asked if she was angry, Elizabeth replied that this had been the best Christmas Day she'd ever had.[2]

Death[]

As Elizabeth's health began to decline, she was placed in a Virginian convalescent home to live out her final years. While it's unknown how often she visited her otherwise, Blanche visited Elizabeth every Mother's Day to reminisce about times gone by. Blanche would tell most of the stories as Elizabeth's memory began to go, but in an ironic twist on what would be their final Mother's Day together, Blanche misremembered the day she tried to run away with Deck Bovenlough, believing that it happened on Mother's Day. Elizabeth corrected her and remembered the date perfectly, much to Blanche's shock and excitement. Elizabeth told Blanche that while she couldn't remember who she was on some days, she remembered every stunt Blanche ever pulled.[2]

Legacy[]

That was the last Mother's Day that Blanche spent with her, as Elizabeth died soon after.[2] Elizabeth was buried in the Hollingsworth family plot in Georgia.

In "Break-In", Blanche hides Elizabeth's jewelry in the freezer and can't remember where they are when the ladies find the house has been robbed.[3]

In "Ebb Tide", Blanche goes to visit her parents' graves.[4]

Relationships[]

Blanche Devereaux[]

Blanche, there are days where I can't remember who I am. But trust me, I remember every stunt you ever pulled! That's how I got half the gray hairs on this eighty-five year-old head!
— Elizabeth and Blanche reminiscing on Mother's Day; "Mother's Day" (1988)[5]
MamaNBlanche

Blanche and her mother on their final Mother's Day together; "Mother's Day" (1988)[2]

Elizabeth was Blanche's biological mother, and one of her namesakes. Elizabeth gave Blanche lots of advice during her childhood; the most notable being that no true lady ever tells her age, which means that she is likely the reason why Blanche has gone to such length to ensure that nobody knows how old she really is.[2]

On Christmas Day 1949, Elizabeth and Curtis were tipped off by Old Man Montgomery that Blanche was attempting to elope with a much older man named Deck Bovenlough. Elizabeth and Curtis somehow ended up at the chapel before Blanche did -- and when faced with Blanche's staunch decision about marrying Deck, Elizabeth pretended to give them her blessing, knowing that Blanche would instantly lose interest in Deck if Elizabeth showed positive interest in him. True to her theory, Blanche broke up with Deck and went home with her parents. When asked if she was angry, Elizabeth replied that this had been the best Christmas Day she'd ever had.[2]

As Elizabeth's health began to decline, she was placed in a Virginian convalescent home to live out her final years. While it's unknown how often she visited her otherwise, Blanche visited Elizabeth every Mother's Day to reminisce about times gone by. Blanche would tell most of the stories as Elizabeth's memory began to go, but in an ironic twist on what would be their final Mother's Day together, Blanche mixed up the dates in a story she was telling, while Elizabeth remembered them perfectly.[2]

Appearances[]

The Golden Girls (1985-1992)[]


Trivia[]

  • Due to continuity errors, Elizabeth was referred to as Samantha Hollingsworth or Samantha Roquet in Season 6.
  • When her children got sick, Elizabeth would rub eucalyptus oil on their necks and tie a sock around it to keep it warm. According to Blanche, it cleared up their sinuses "just like that".[6]

Gallery[]

Site Navigation[]

V - E - H
The Golden Girls characters
Main Cast Blanche DevereauxDorothy ZbornakRose NylundSophia Petrillo
Recurring Cast Miles WebberSalvadore PetrilloStanley Zbornak
Family members Alma LindstromAngelo Grisanti, Jr.Angela PetrilloAngela VecchioAurora DevereauxBridget NylundBrother MartinCharmaine HollingsworthCharles Nylund, Sr.Clayton HollingsworthCurtis HollingsworthDon Angelo Grisanti, Sr.Elizabeth HollingsworthGloria HarkerGunter LindstromHolly LindstromDavid BlackmoreJamie DevereauxJanet BlackmoreJim HarkerKate GriffithsLucas HollingsworthLucy WarrenMichael ZbornakPhillip PetrilloRebecca DevereauxTheodore HollingsworthVirginia Warren

References[]

  1. The Golden Girls, Season 2, Episode 1, "End of the Curse". Harris, Susan (writers) & Hughes, Terry (director) (September 27th, 1986)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 The Golden Girls, Season 3, Episode 25, "Mother's Day". Speer, Kathy and Grossman, Terry (writers) & Hughes, Terry (director) (May 7th, 1988)
  3. The Golden Girls, Season 1, Episode 8, "Break-In". Berg, James and Zimmerman, Stan (writers) & Drake, Jim (director) (November 16th, 1985)
  4. The Golden Girls, Season 5, Episode 11, "Ebb Tide". Sotkin, Mark (writer) & Hughes, Terry (director) (December 9th, 1989)
  5. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :3
  6. The Golden Girls, Season 1, Episode 21, “Flu Attack”. Berg, James and Zimmerman, Stan (writers) & (March 1, 1986)
Advertisement