‘Which role would you like to be remembered for?’ Catherine O’Hara’s old response wins over the internet

Catherine O’Hara meant a lot to people. For more than fifty years, she made audiences laugh, surprised them with quirky characters, and somehow always kept things honest and real. News of her passing at 71—after a short illness—hit hard. Tributes have poured in from fans, friends, and colleagues all over the world. But what’s really sticking with people right now is an old video that’s making the rounds—a simple, heartfelt answer she once gave about her favorite role in life. It’s the kind of thing that reminds everyone why they loved her in the first place.

For the unversed, O’Hara passed away on Friday in Los Angeles. Her agency, Creative Artists Agency, shared that she passed away at home, and people everywhere are remembering her work, and most importantly, her warmth. In the wake of such an emotional outpour, a short clip went viral where the legendary actress revealed the one role she’d like the most to be remembered for.

The viral moment

People talk about her characters all the time, and there are plenty to choose from. Moira Rose from ‘Schitt’s Creek’ stands out, of course. O’Hara loved playing her—she talked in multiple interviews about the freedom she felt in that role, how much fun it was to go big and weird and wild. Moira, with her wild accent, dramatic flair, and endless wig collection, became the heart of the show and a career-defining part for O’Hara. She even admitted in the ‘Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: The Story of Schitt's Creek’ documentary that she almost turned it down, not sure if she could pull it off. But once she jumped in, Moira Rose basically became her shadow.

But the thing is, even with all those iconic characters, that’s not the role O’Hara cherished most. In a TMZ interview from earlier this year, someone asked her what role she wanted to be remembered for. You could see her think for a second. Then she just smiled and said, “Mother of my children.” No hesitation. No big speech. Just that.

The fan who asked the question started gushing, telling her she was their favorite actor ever. O’Hara just laughed it off, a little embarrassed. That was her—never taking herself too seriously.

How People Reacted

After the news of her death broke on January 30, fans started sharing the clip everywhere. It hit home for a lot of people. Folks loved her answer because it showed what really mattered to her. She wasn’t just the woman behind Moira Rose or Kevin’s frantic mom in Home Alone. She was a person with a private life, she cherished as much as any award or big role.

On Instagram, one person wrote, “She’s all of our mothers forever.” Someone else said, “The best way I can sum up Catherine’s career is her presence always felt like a hug. She’s truly one of a kind.” Another fan noticed, “The way she got so emotional when she said it.” And someone else just put it simply: “Mother of my children, you’re an icon. We’ll remember you as a mother first, and a great actress.”

Catherine O’Hara: The legend she was

Catherine O’Hara was a Canadian-American actress, comedian, and screenwriter. She started out in Toronto with Second City and soon became a key player on SCTV, writing and acting her way to an Emmy. From there, her career took off. She stole scenes in movies like ‘Beetlejuice’, ‘Home Alone’, and Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries—'Best in Show’, ‘A Mighty Wind’, ‘Waiting for Guffman’. She had a knack for comedy, but she could break your heart, too. Later, she picked up Emmy nominations for dramatic work in shows like ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘The Studio’.

Her role as Moira Rose on ‘Schitt’s Creek’ brought her another Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. But more than the trophies, people remember how she made them feel—how she could be both ridiculous and deeply human, sometimes in the same scene.