Bette Davis
born: 05-04-1908
birth place: Lowell, Massachusetts
died: 06-10-1989
Bette Davis, the "First Lady of the Silver Screen", enjoyed a film career spanning six decades who, through her work, helped to modernise the way in which the industry viewed women.
Bette was born Ruth Davis in 1908. Her father left just before she was ten years old, and her mother, despite limited money, sent Bette and her sister to boarding school at Cushing Academy.
After graduating from high school, Bette attended Murray Anderson’s Dramatic School, and made her Broadway debut in 1929 in 'Broken Dishes'.
She then went to Hollywood, to screen test for Universal Studios, which was successful. However, after making only six small films, Bette’s contract with Universal was not renewed.
After deciding to return to Broadway, Bette received a phone call from Warner Bros. and decided to stay in Hollywood, where she signed a seven-year contract with the studio in 1932.
'The Man Who Played God', released the same year, was the first film to make Bette popular and, two years later in 1935, she won an Oscar for Best Actress for the film 'Human Bondage'.
However, by 1936 she was becoming disillusioned with Hollywood, as Warner Bros. were offering her roles that she found small and unchallenging. Bette headed for England to continue her career there, but was promptly sued by Jack Warner, so she was obliged to return to the studio and honour her contract with Warner Bros.
In 1939 Bette Davis won her second Oscar for the film 'Jezebel', and by 1942 she was the highest paid woman in the USA.
During World War II Bette helped to organize the 'Hollywood Canteen', and was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal in 1980, the highest civilian honour to be granted by the Defence Department.
Bette Davis was married four times during her life, and had a daughter, B.D., with her third husband, William Grant Sherry. She and her fourth husband Gary Merrill then adopted Margot and Michael.
Bette made over 100 films during her career, including the 1962 classic 'Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?' In 1977 she became the first woman to receive the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement award.
