Actress Sandra Bullock is struggling to bid farewell to the late Betty White, allowing herself space to mourn the loss of the beloved star. After the news broke of White's passing at the age of 99, just weeks before her 100th birthday, Bullock, 57, spoke exclusively to PEOPLE. She confessed, "Normally, I don't indulge in vodka, but tonight, I'll have it on ice with a slice of lemon and a hot dog on the side as I embrace my sadness."
Bullock, who co-starred with White in the 2009 romantic comedy film The Proposal, described White as someone who brightened everyone's lives, saying, "I'll need to buy some rose-colored glasses because Betty embodied that for all of us.
The actress recently shared her thoughts on White ahead of what would have been her milestone birthday. Bullock joined other former colleagues of White's in celebrating her life and career for the cover story of this week's PEOPLE magazine.
In light of White's passing, PEOPLE's editor in chief, Dan Wakeford, expressed deep sadness and gratitude for having the opportunity to collaborate with White on an exclusive feature about her extraordinary life and achievements.
During the interview, Bullock praised White's acting skills and her impeccable comedic timing.
Bullock additionally cherished White as a close friend, describing her as a loving, decent, optimistic, inclusive, and hilarious human being.
Ryan Reynolds, Bullock's co-star in The Proposal, also shared his admiration for White. The 45-year-old actor revealed, "I've been a fan of Betty's for as long as I can remember." Sharing some lighthearted anecdotes, Reynolds praised White's ability to elicit laughter from just a single look, jokingly adding, "I heard the scripts for Golden Girls were only 35 pages because so many laughs came from Betty's expressions alone." He concluded his tribute by teasing, "She's a typical Capricorn — sleeping all day, staying out all night, sipping on men like cocktails."
