For generations of television fans, Elizabeth Montgomery has remained synonymous with Samantha Stephens, the charming witch whose warmth and humor made Bewitched one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 1960s. According to Erin Murphy, who played Samantha’s daughter Tabitha, however, the actress behind the magical character had a very different personality when the cameras stopped rolling.
According to Entertainment Weekly, speaking on a recent podcast, Murphy reflected on her years alongside the television icon and shared a more personal perspective on the woman audiences rarely knew. Although she admired Montgomery deeply, she explained that many fans naturally assumed the actress behaved just like the lovable witch she portrayed each week.
Erin Murphy remembers a dedicated actress with a sharp sense of humor
Murphy explained that Elizabeth Montgomery treated acting as a profession and approached every project with focus and discipline. Unlike Samantha Stephens, who always appeared gentle and endlessly patient, Montgomery could be direct, determined, and business-minded while she worked. Murphy also revealed another side of her former co-star that many viewers never saw—a playful sense of humor that was much edgier than her television image.
Although the cast spent years working together, Murphy said Montgomery usually kept her work life separate from her personal life once production wrapped. After Bewitched ended in 1972, Montgomery continued sending Christmas cards to Murphy for a while, but their relationship gradually faded. Murphy also addressed long-standing stories claiming Montgomery reunited with former co-star Dick York before his death, saying those accounts simply were not true.
Her legacy extends far beyond Samantha Stephens
Even though they no longer stayed in close contact, Murphy remained friends with Montgomery’s children and occasionally visited the family’s home. During those visits, she noticed something that surprised her. The house contained almost no photographs from Bewitched. Instead, family photos and memories from other parts of Montgomery’s career filled the walls, reflecting how she viewed the sitcom as one chapter in a much larger life.
Those memories have helped fans see Elizabeth Montgomery from a different perspective. She gave audiences one of television’s most unforgettable characters, but she also built a reputation as a hardworking performer who valued professionalism and embraced new opportunities throughout her career. Stories from those who knew her continue to paint a richer portrait of the talented actress behind the magic.
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