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Bette Davis

Born

in Lowell, Massachusetts, The United States

April 05, 1908

Died

October 06, 1989

Website

http://www.bettedavis.com/about/bio.htm

Genre

Biographies & Memoirs

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Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was a two-time Academy Award-winning American actress of film, television and theatre. 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 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 Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was a two-time Academy Award-winning American actress of film, television and theatre. 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 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 actresses, known for her forceful and intense style. Davis gained a reputation as a perfectionist who could be highly combative, and her 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 was the first actor to receive 10 Academy Award nominations and the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. Her career went through several periods of decline, 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 film, television and theater roles to her credit.

In 1999, Davis was placed second, behind Katharine Hepburn, on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female stars of all time.
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Bette Davis’s books

Average rating: 4.06 · 3,072 ratings · 263 reviews · 35 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Lonely Life 4.13 avg rating — 1,723 ratings — published 1962 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	This 'n That by Bette Davis, Michael Herskowitz 3.93 avg rating — 1,198 ratings — published 1987 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bette Davis: In Her Own Words 4.58 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Happy Birthday—Love, Bette: On Your Special Day, Enjoy the Wit and Wisdom of Bette Davis, First Lady of the American Screen (Happy Birthday—Love . . . Book 3) 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	God's Birthing Room: Purpose Birthed Through Pain 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	MISS BETTE DAVIS - vinyl lp. THEY'RE EITHER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD - LIFE IS A LONELY THING - UNTIL IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO - GROWING OLDER, FEELING YOUNGER - IT CAN'T BE WRONG - I'VE WRITTEN A LETTER TO DADDY, AND OTHERS. 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Films in Review (March-April, 1991) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Photograph of Bette Davis in Warner Brothers June Bride 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	When I Was 16, Outstanding Women Talk About by Bette Davis, Margaret Mead, Mary Brannum (Editor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Photograph captioned "Bette Davis who plays an imortant role in "The Silent Voice" the latest George Arliss film which starts at the Regal London Pavilion" 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by Bette Davis (?)

“When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch.”
― Bette Davis

tags: clichés, double-standards, empowerment, feminism, gender, hypocrisy, misogyny, opinions, speaking-out, stereotypes, women

6180 likes

“There comes a time in every woman's life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne.”
― Bette Davis

tags: champagne, drinking

287 likes

“If you have never been hated by your child, you have never been a parent.”
― Bette Davis

tags: parenting

230 likes

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Bette Davis’s Followers (101)

Bette Davis

Combine EditionsBette Davis’s books

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
Bette Davis’s books