12 Global Versions of ‘The Golden Girls’ & Key Differences
Picture it: Four women in their golden years defy television executives’ expectations and become the screen sirens of primetime in the ’80s, beating out an equally spunky queen with a knack for solving mysteries (Murder, She Wrote) and a ruthless bunch of oil barons who seem to enjoy stabbing each other in the back for funsies (Dallas). Against all odds, The Golden Girls became one of the decade’s biggest hits, proving that sharp wit, great chemistry, and a lot of cheesecake could outshine just about anything on television.
And for seven years, they thanked each of us for being a friend with gigantic belly laughs through Rose’s (Betty White) rambling tales about St. Olaf, Minnesota, Dorothy’s (Bea Arthur) zingers, Blanche’s (Rue McClanahan) vivaciousness, and Sophia’s (Estelle Getty) stories of her life back in Sicily.
But did you know that the quartet was making friends on a global level? Susan Harris’ winning formula was so successful that NBC exported the template, inspiring international versions of The Golden Girls around the world. Many local adaptations took the core concept of four older women sharing a home and reimagined it for different cultures, proving that friendship, laughter, and navigating life’s later chapters are truly universal. Here are just a few we found. Please enjoy.
Golden Girls, Weekdays, back-to-back episodes, 10/9c; Sundays, 6/5c and a two-hour prime-time block starting at 8/7c, MeTV; Streaming, Hulu & Disney+
The Golden Girls
United States
1985 – 1992
The story followed two widows, one divorcée, and her elderly mother as they lived together in Miami, sharing laughs, love, and the trials and tribulations of their golden years. There was the owner of the house, the saucy and spirited Blanche Devereaux (McClanahan); the naive and kindhearted Rose Nylund (White); the caustic and sassy Dorothy Zbornak (Arthur); and her equally spirited mother, Sophia Petrillo (Getty), who had moved in after her retirement home burned down. The quartet quickly became one of television’s most beloved ensembles.
Brighton Belles
United Kingdom
1993
The British version had the quartet set up in the seaside in Sussex and starred Sheila Gish as the flirty house owner Bridget (Blanche), Sheila Hancock as sardonic divorcee Frances (Dorothy), Wendy Craig as farmer’s daughter Annie (Rose), and Jean Boht as outspoken octogenarian Josephine (Sophia). Unfortunately, it was poorly received and was dropped from ITV’s schedule after six episodes.
Juntas, pero no revueltas (Together, But Not Mixed)
Spain
1996
In this Spanish version, Mercedes Sampietro played Julia (Dorothy), Mónica Randall was Nuri (Blanche), Kiti Manver portrayed Rosa (Rose), and Amparo Baró starred as Benigna (Sophia). Sadly, the series didn’t last long and was canceled after just one season.
Queridas e Maduras (Dear Mature Girls)
Portugal
1995
For two seasons, the Portuguese version lifted plots from the first two seasons of its American counterpart and adapted the story for the local audience. This version featured Catarina Avelar as Edite (Dorothy), Amélia Videira as Inês (Rose), Lia Gama as Salomé (Blanche), and Luísa Barbosa as Aparecida (Sophia).
Bolshie Devochki (Большие Девочки, Grown Girls)
Russia
2006
Canceled after only 30 or so episodes, this version featured Galina Petrova as Irina (Dorothy), Olga Ostroumova as Nadejda (Blanche), Valentina Telechkina as Margarita (Rose), and Elena Millioti as Sofya (Sophia).
![https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttMbM1WTH6g; Chrysa Koritsia (Xρυσά κορίτσια, Gold[en] Girls) Greece; ET1](https://www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GoldenGirls_greek-1014x686.jpg)
Chrysa Koritsia (Xρυσά κορίτσια, Gold[en] Girls)
Greece
2008 – 2009
The Greek version featured Mirka Papakonstantinou as Dora (Dorothy), Dina Konsta as Sofia, Eleni Gerasimidou as Fifi (Rose), and Ivonni Maltezou as Bela (Blanche). The series was adapted to better reflect Greek culture, though it also drew directly from several American episodes, reworking them for local audiences. New touches included Fifi owning a pet goat and Bela having the house blessed after a break-in, giving familiar storylines a distinctly Greek flavor.
Altın Kızlar (The Golden Girls)
Turkey
2009
A Turkish version of The Golden Girls moved the action from Miami to Beyoğlu, but sadly, it lasted only a single episode. The premise failed to take off.
Las chicas de oro (The Golden Girls)
Spain
2010
This was Spain’s second attempt at a Golden Girls remake, but this time starring Concha Velasco as Doroti (Dorothy), Carmen Maura as Rosa (Rose), Lola Herrera as Blanca (Blanche), and Alicia Hermida as Sofía (Sophia). And, as history repeated itself, the series was canceled after just two dozen episodes due to poor word of mouth.
Bnot HaZahav (Golden Girls, The Daughters of Gold)
Israel
2011 – 2016
In the Israeli version, senior Dalia (Hana Laszlo) owns a house she shares with her friends Shosh Ben-Basat (Tiki Dayan), Ruti Golan (Miki Kam), and Ruti’s mother, Riva Glambush (Rivka Michaeli). Because the show was on in the 2010s, it was able to use more modern conventions such as technology, social media, and generational gaps in its plotlines.
Golden Girls
The Netherlands
2012
In the Dutch version, four older women named Barbara (Loes Luca), Els (Beppie Melissen), Toos (Pleuni Touw), and Milly (Cecile Heuer) live together in the coastal city of Scheveningen. Together, they form a found family. Check out the theme song as it is eerily familiar.
Los años dorados (The Golden Years)
Chile
2015
In this version, Chichi Fernández (Gloria Münchmeyer) is the Blanche of the group, Bea Lira Peña (Consuelo Holzapfel) is the Rose, Dolores Peña (Ana Reeves) is the Dorothy, and Carmen Ortiz (Carmen Barros) is the Sophia character. In this version, the women are four elderly cousins who share an apartment in Viña del Mar, Chile.
Sukkar Ziyada (Extra Sugar)
Egypt
2020
Starring legendary local actresses in the four key roles, the series tailored its humor and situations for Egyptian audiences. It brought the same beloved mix of loyal friendship, sharp-witted banter, and graceful aging to a whole new cultural setting.
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