When you think of Angela Lansbury, you probably see the sharp-witted Jessica Fletcher or the warm-hearted Mrs. Potts. She was the ultimate Hollywood pro. But behind the scenes, Lansbury’s real life was a lot more intense than a television mystery. Specifically, her relationship with her daughter, Deidre "Didi" Angela Shaw, involved a high-stakes escape from one of history’s most notorious cult leaders.
So, what does Angela Lansbury's daughter do now that the spotlight has dimmed?
Honestly, she chose a life that couldn't be further from the red carpets of Hollywood. Deidre Shaw spent the bulk of her adult life in the kitchen—not as a hobbyist, but as a professional chef and restaurateur. Along with her husband, Enzo Battarra, she became a fixture in the Los Angeles dining scene, though you might not have known it was "Jessica Fletcher's daughter" making your pasta.
The Pivot from Hollywood to the Pantry
Unlike her brother Anthony, who followed their mother into the industry as a director and actor, Deidre took a sharp left turn. She didn't want the cameras.
She and Enzo ran a beloved spot called Enzo & Angela in Brentwood, California. It was the kind of place people called a "neighborhood gem." It wasn't flashy or trying to be the next "it" spot on TikTok. It was authentic. They specialized in handmade gnocchi, fresh fish, and a stuffed chicken dish called Pollo Delizioso that apparently Lansbury herself would rave about to anyone who would listen.
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If you’re looking for the restaurant today, you’ll find the doors are closed. Enzo & Angela shut down permanently around 2019. Before that, they ran another place called Positano in Santa Monica. For Deidre, the culinary world wasn't just a job; it was a way to build a normal, grounded life after a very turbulent youth.
The Manson Family Connection: Why Everything Changed
You can't really understand what Deidre does today without looking at why her family fled California in the first place. This is the part that sounds like a movie script, but it’s 100% true.
In the late 1960s, Deidre fell in with a "crowd" in the hills above Malibu. That crowd was led by Charles Manson.
Lansbury later admitted that Deidre was fascinated by him. Manson was charismatic and targeted young people from wealthy families who had access to money. Deidre actually used her mother’s credit cards to buy supplies for the "Family."
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"It pains me to say it but, at one stage, Deidre was in with a crowd led by Charles Manson," Lansbury told The Daily Mail. "She was one of many youngsters who knew him—and they were fascinated."
When Lansbury realized her daughter—and her son, who was struggling with heroin at the time—were spiraling, she didn't just stage an intervention. She moved the entire family to County Cork, Ireland.
She literally picked up and left Hollywood. She refused work for a year. She learned to cook using Elizabeth David’s cookbooks. This period in Ireland is likely where Deidre’s love for food started to take root. It was a reset. It worked.
Where Is Deidre Shaw Now?
At 72 years old, Deidre lives a quiet life. She's mostly retired from the grueling pace of the restaurant industry. Since the closure of Enzo & Angela, she has stayed out of the public eye.
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She isn't on Instagram sharing "nepo baby" content. She isn't writing a tell-all memoir. After her mother passed away in October 2022, Deidre and her siblings have focused on preserving their mother's legacy while maintaining their own privacy.
Why Her Story Actually Matters
Most celebrity kids try to replicate their parents' fame. Deidre did the opposite. She found a skill—Italian cuisine—and built a career based on labor and craft.
- The Escape: She survived a brush with a cult that destroyed many other lives.
- The Career: She spent decades as a chef-owner, a job that requires 80-hour weeks.
- The Legacy: She remains the bridge between Lansbury's Hollywood era and a more private, family-oriented life.
If you're wondering if she still cooks, the answer is almost certainly yes, but likely for friends and family now. The Brentwood restaurant might be gone, but the "neighborhood gem" vibe she created lasted for decades.
If you're curious about the Lansbury family's lasting impact, your best bet is to look into the Angela Lansbury Estate or the various charitable foundations the family supports. While Deidre doesn't have a public social media presence, her brother Anthony remains somewhat active in the industry. For those who want to experience a "taste" of Deidre's world, looking up old recipes for Italian comfort food—specifically those inspired by the Campania region where her husband Enzo is from—is the closest you'll get to her culinary style.