AceShowbiz - Veteran actress Betty White will celebrate the beginning of her last year as an octogenarian on Monday, January 17. The beloved funnywoman turns 89.

The Emmy award-winning star rose to fame hosting her own radio shows before moving into TV with hit programs including "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Golden Girls". Recently she's enjoyed a career revival, appearing in "The Proposal" alongside Sandra Bullock in 2009 and hosting comedy favorite "Saturday Night Live" last year after a Facebook.com campaign by fans.

To celebrate White's birthday and as a toast to her return to success, WENN has compiled 10 fascinating facts about the star who keeps on shining:

• White moved to Los Angeles when she was two years old during America's Great Depression.
• She attended the Horace Mann School - the same high school as Angelina Jolie, Nicolas Cage, Lenny Kravitz and David Schwimmer.
• The actress is of German and Greek ancestry.
• In 1955, White was made the honorary mayor of Hollywood.
• When Rue McCLanahan died in summer 2010, she became the last surviving member of the four The Golden Girls.
• The veteran star admitted to having cosmetic surgery before starring in 1985's "The Golden Girls", despite the show being about growing old.
• She is an avid animal welfare activist and works with a number of organizations.
• In November 2010, the USDA Forest Service, along with Smokey Bear, made her an honorary forest ranger - one of her lifelong ambitions.
• White received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1988 - placed next to the star bearing the name of her late husband, Allen Ludden.
• She has guest starred on shows including "Ally McBeal", "That '70s Show", "Joey", "My Name Is Earl" and "Malcolm in the Middle".