Bette Davis

Bette Davis

Biography

Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres; from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional comedies, though her greatest successes were her roles in romantic dramas.

After appearing in Broadway plays, Davis moved to Hollywood in 1930, but her early films for Universal Studios were unsuccessful. She joined Warner Bros. in 1932 and established her career with several critically acclaimed performances. In 1937, she attempted to free herself from her contract and although she lost a well-publicized legal case, it marked the beginning of the most successful period of her career. Until the late 1940s, she was one of American cinema's most celebrated leading ladies, known for her forceful and intense style. Davis gained a reputation as a perfectionist who could be highly combative, and confrontations with studio executives, film directors and costars were often reported. Her forthright manner, clipped vocal style and ubiquitous cigarette contributed to a public persona which has often been imitated and satirized.

Davis was the co-founder of the Hollywood Canteen, and was the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, was the first person to accrue 10 Academy Award nominations for acting, and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. Her career went through several periods of eclipse, and she admitted that her success had often been at the expense of her personal relationships. Married four times, she was once widowed and thrice divorced, and raised her children as a single parent. Her final years were marred by a long period of ill health, but she continued acting until shortly before her death from breast cancer, with more than 100 films, television and theater roles to her credit. In 1999, Davis was placed second, after Katharine Hepburn, on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female stars of all time.

Personal info

Gender

Female

Birthday

1908-04-05

Place of birth

Lowell, Massachusetts, USA

Images

Cast

Jezebel

Jezebel

1938

7.00

Dead Ringer

Dead Ringer

1964

6.90

Deception

Deception

1946

6.50

Marked Woman

Marked Woman

1937

6.50

Bordertown

Bordertown

1935

5.90

Now, Voyager

Now, Voyager

1942

7.40

Dark Victory

Dark Victory

1939

7.00

The Old Maid

The Old Maid

1939

7.10

Storm Center

Storm Center

1956

6.40

The Nanny

The Nanny

1965

6.90

The Letter

The Letter

1940

7.30

Dangerous

Dangerous

1935

6.70

Ex-Lady

Ex-Lady

1933

6.30

Kid Galahad

Kid Galahad

1937

7.00

Madame Sin

Madame Sin

1972

6.70

The Star

The Star

1952

7.20

Juarez

Juarez

1939

6.50

Bunny O'Hare

Bunny O'Hare

1971

5.60

So Big!

So Big!

1932

5.80

June Bride

June Bride

1948

7.20

The Sisters

The Sisters

1938

6.10

Hell's House

Hell's House

1932

5.10

Right of Way

Right of Way

1983

7.30

Housewife

Housewife

1934

7.60

The Menace

The Menace

1932

4.50

Seed

Seed

1931

6.00

White Mama

White Mama

1980

8.00

Skyward

Skyward

1980

6.90

Faye

Faye

2024

6.70

Faye

Faye

2024

6.70

Bette Davis

Bette Davis

1972

0.00

Mickey's 50

Mickey's 50

1978

0.00