Betty White, one of the most beloved television stars of all time, celebrated her 97th birthday on Thursday. To mark the occasion, we’ve compiled five facts about White that you likely did not know before!

She Holds The Record For Longest TV Career For A Female

White holds the Guinness World Record for the longest television career for a female in history. She made her television debut way back in 1939, when she danced on an experimental West Coast TV show, which was the first of its kind. She still continues to appear on television to this day and is showing no signs of slowing down!

Allen Ludden Proposed To Her With An Easter Bunny

White and Ludden fell in love while working on the Cape Cod strawhat circuit. He later proposed to White by sending her a stuffed Easter bunny with gold and sapphire earrings, along with a note that read, “Now, come on, will you marry me?” They were married for 18 years before Ludden’s death in 1981.

She Was Originally Supposed To Play Blanche On Golden Girls

White originally auditioned to play the promiscuous character of Blanche on “Golden Girls,” but producers feared this character would be too similar to the one White played on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” That’s why they asked White and Rue McClanahan to switch roles when they read, and the rest is history!

She Loves Junk Food

White has attributed her advanced age partly to her love of junk food! Her costars on the show “Hot In Cleveland” said that White loves licorice, French fries, diet soda, and hot dogs.

She Describes Herself As The ‘Luckiest Old Broad Alive’

White has described herself as the “luckiest old broad alive” for getting to do what she loves and to have a long lasting career to this day. It’s hard to disagree with that!

Happy birthday, Betty White!