Bette Davis

Biography

Bette Davis was an American actress who worked in film, television, and theater. After appearing in Broadway plays, she moved to Hollywood in 1930 and initially struggled at Universal Studios before joining Warner Bros. in 1932. Her breakthrough came in Of Human Bondage (1934), where she played a vulgar waitress. She received the Academy Award for Best Actress for Dangerous (1935), then a second for Jezebel (1938). She earned four more consecutive Best Actress nominations, including for Dark Victory (1939) and The Letter (1940). She played a declining Broadway actress in All About Eve (1950), a performance often called her best, and her last nomination came for What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). Later she took character parts in films such as Death on the Nile (1978) and worked in television, winning an Emmy for Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter (1979). Her last completed film was The Whales of August (1987). She died in 1989.

81years old at death

Born April 5, 1908Lowell
Died October 6, 1989Neuilly-sur-Seine
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Ruth Elizabeth Davis (birth name)Also credited as Ruth Davis

Movie Career

Films: 66
Career span: 88 years1931 to 2019

Genres

Drama68%, 45 films
Romance30%, 20 films
Crime24%, 16 films
Comedy21%, 14 films
Mystery15%, 10 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A first
Bette Davis was the first person to receive ten Academy Award nominations for acting, and she was also the first woman to be given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Film Institute.
A first
In January 1941, Davis became the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' first female president. Her brash manner and radical proposals antagonized the committee, so she resigned and Walter Wanger succeeded her.
Big break
George Arliss cast Bette Davis as the lead female in the Warner Bros. movie The Man Who Played God. Davis said he helped her achieve her Hollywood break and credited him for the rest of her life.
A role that slipped away
Davis was rejected for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind after David O. Selznick did not consider her suitable, despite a radio poll naming her the audience favorite.
First role
Davis's first paid acting assignment was a one-week stint as a chorus girl in the play Broadway, given to her by George Cukor after she auditioned for his stock theater company in Rochester, New York.
A change of course
Davis was inspired to pursue a film career after seeing Mary Pickford in Little Lord Fauntleroy, and she moved to Hollywood at age 22 to screen test for Universal Studios.

Bette Davis movies on Netflix

Mike Wallace Is Here2019IMDb rating 7.4
Listen to Me Marlon2015IMDb rating 8.1as Himself
Vito2011IMDb rating 8.1
Wicked Stepmother1989IMDb rating 4.0as Miranda Pierpoint
The Whales of August1987IMDb rating 7.1as Libby Strong
Murder with Mirrors1985IMDb rating 6.3as Carrie Louise Serrocold
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982IMDb rating 6.8as Doris Davermont
The Watcher in the Woods1980IMDb rating 6.1as Mrs. Aylwood
Death on the Nile1978IMDb rating 7.3as Mrs. Van Schuyler
Return from Witch Mountain1978IMDb rating 5.7as Letha
Burnt Offerings1976IMDb rating 6.4as Aunt Elizabeth
Scream, Pretty Peggy1973IMDb rating 6.1as Mrs. Elliott
Madame Sin1972IMDb rating 5.7as Madame Sin
The Nanny1965IMDb rating 7.1as Nanny
Dead Ringer1964IMDb rating 7.3as Margaret DeLorca / Edith Phillips
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte1964IMDb rating 7.5as Charlotte
Where Love Has Gone1964IMDb rating 6.1as Mrs. Gerald Hayden
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?1962IMDb rating 8.0as Baby Jane Hudson
Pocketful of Miracles1961IMDb rating 7.1as Apple Annie
The Scapegoat1959IMDb rating 6.8as Countess
Storm Center1956IMDb rating 6.6as Alicia Hull
The Catered Affair1956IMDb rating 7.4as Agnes Hurley
The Virgin Queen1955IMDb rating 6.6as Queen Elizabeth I
Phone Call from a Stranger1952IMDb rating 6.9as Marie Hoke
The Star1952IMDb rating 6.9as Margaret Elliot
Another Man's Poison1951IMDb rating 6.8as Janet Frobisher
All About Eve1950IMDb rating 8.2as Margo
Beyond the Forest1949IMDb rating 6.8as Rosa Moline
A Stolen Life1946IMDb rating 7.2as Kate Bosworth / Patricia Bosworth
Deception1946IMDb rating 7.1as Christine Radcliffe
The Corn Is Green1945IMDb rating 7.3as Miss Lilly Christabel Moffat
Hollywood Canteen1944IMDb rating 7.0as Himself
Mr. Skeffington1944IMDb rating 7.5as Fanny Trellis
Old Acquaintance1943IMDb rating 7.4as Kit Marlowe
Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7as Bette Davis
In This Our Life1942IMDb rating 7.3as Stanley Timberlake Kingsmill
Now, Voyager1942IMDb rating 7.8as Charlotte Vale
The Bride Came C.O.D.1941IMDb rating 6.9as Joan Winfield
The Great Lie1941IMDb rating 7.1as Maggie Patterson Van Allen
The Little Foxes1941IMDb rating 7.9as Regina Giddens
The Man Who Came to Dinner1941IMDb rating 7.5as Maggie Cutler
All This, and Heaven Too1940IMDb rating 7.4as Henriette Deluzy-Desportes
The Letter1940IMDb rating 7.5as Leslie Crosbie
Dark Victory1939IMDb rating 7.4as Judith Traherne
Juarez1939IMDb rating 6.8as Empress Carlotta von Hapsburg
The Old Maid1939IMDb rating 7.4as Charlotte Lovell
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0as Queen Elizabeth
Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4as Julie Marsden
It's Love I'm After1937IMDb rating 7.3as Joyce Arden
Kid Galahad1937IMDb rating 7.2as Louise 'Fluff' Phillips
Marked Woman1937IMDb rating 7.1as Mary Dwight Strauber
Satan Met a Lady1936IMDb rating 5.8as Valerie Purvis
The Petrified Forest1936IMDb rating 7.5as Gabrielle Maple
Bordertown1935IMDb rating 6.6as Mrs. Marie Roark
Dangerous1935IMDb rating 6.8as Joyce Heath
Front Page Woman1935IMDb rating 6.5as Ellen Garfield
Jimmy the Gent1934IMDb rating 6.6as Joan Martin
Of Human Bondage1934IMDb rating 7.0as Mildred Rogers
Ex-Lady1933IMDb rating 6.4as Helen Bauer
20,000 Years in Sing Sing1932IMDb rating 6.8as Fay Wilson
Hell's House1932IMDb rating 5.8as Peggy Gardner
The Cabin in the Cotton1932IMDb rating 6.6as Madge Norwood
The Rich Are Always with Us1932IMDb rating 6.2as Malbro
Three on a Match1932IMDb rating 7.1as Ruth Westcott
The Bad Sister1931IMDb rating 6.1as Laura Madison
Waterloo Bridge1931IMDb rating 7.4as Janet Cronin

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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All About Eve1950 Dramaas Margo
IMDb rating 8.2151K votes
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?1962 Drama, Horror, Thrilleras Baby Jane Hudson
IMDb rating 8.068K votes
Now, Voyager1942as Charlotte Vale
IMDb rating 7.821K votes
Jezebel1938as Julie Marsden
IMDb rating 7.417K votes
The Letter1940as Leslie Crosbie
IMDb rating 7.516K votes
Death on the Nile1978as Mrs. Van Schuyler
IMDb rating 7.345K votes
The Little Foxes1941as Regina Giddens
IMDb rating 7.914K votes
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte1964as Charlotte
IMDb rating 7.518K votes

Most often with

Michael Curtiz directed seven of these films, Irving Rapper four and William Wyler three. Humphrey Bogart appears in eight of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Humphrey Bogart

George Brent

Olivia de Havilland

William B. Davidson

Bess Flowers

Donald CrispMichael CurtizDirector, 7 films Irving RapperDirector, 4 films

William WylerDirector, 3 films

Films together

Humphrey Bogart8 films together, 1931 to 1982
Humphrey Bogart's page
- Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982IMDb rating 6.8Davis as Doris DavermontBogart as Phillip Marlowe
- Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Davis as Bette DavisBogart as Humphrey Bogart
- Dark Victory1939IMDb rating 7.4Davis as Judith TraherneBogart as Michael O'Leary
- Kid Galahad1937IMDb rating 7.2Davis as Louise 'Fluff' PhillipsBogart as Turkey Morgan
- Marked Woman1937IMDb rating 7.1Davis as Mary Dwight StrauberBogart as David Graham
- The Petrified Forest1936IMDb rating 7.5Davis as Gabrielle MapleBogart as Duke Mantee
- Three on a Match1932IMDb rating 7.1Davis as Ruth WestcottBogart as Harve
- The Bad Sister1931IMDb rating 6.1Davis as Laura MadisonBogart as Valentine Corliss
George Brent7 films together, 1932 to 1942
George Brent's page
- In This Our Life1942IMDb rating 7.3Davis as Stanley Timberlake KingsmillBrent as Craig Fleming
- The Great Lie1941IMDb rating 7.1Davis as Maggie Patterson Van AllenBrent as Peter 'Pete' Van Allen
- Dark Victory1939IMDb rating 7.4Davis as Judith TraherneBrent as Dr. Frederick Steele
- The Old Maid1939IMDb rating 7.4Davis as Charlotte LovellBrent as Clem Spender
- Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4Davis as Julie MarsdenBrent as Buck Cantrell
- Front Page Woman1935IMDb rating 6.5Davis as Ellen GarfieldBrent as Curt Devlin
- The Rich Are Always with Us1932IMDb rating 6.2Davis as MalbroBrent as Julian Tierney
Olivia de Havilland5 films together, 1937 to 1964
Olivia de Havilland's page
- Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte1964IMDb rating 7.5Davis as CharlotteHavilland as Miriam
- Thank Your Lucky Stars1943IMDb rating 6.7Davis as Bette DavisHavilland as Olivia de Havilland
- In This Our Life1942IMDb rating 7.3Davis as Stanley Timberlake KingsmillHavilland as Roy Timberlake
- The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0Davis as Queen ElizabethHavilland as Lady Penelope Gray
- It's Love I'm After1937IMDb rating 7.3Davis as Joyce ArdenHavilland as Marcia West
William B. Davidson5 films together, 1935 to 1942
William B. Davidson's page
- In This Our Life1942IMDb rating 7.3Davis as Stanley Timberlake KingsmillDavidson as Jim Purdy
- Marked Woman1937IMDb rating 7.1Davis as Mary Dwight StrauberDavidson as Bob Crandall
- Satan Met a Lady1936IMDb rating 5.8Davis as Valerie PurvisDavidson as City Fathers Committee Spokesman
- Bordertown1935IMDb rating 6.6Davis as Mrs. Marie RoarkDavidson as Dr. Carter
- Dangerous1935IMDb rating 6.8Davis as Joyce HeathDavidson as Reed Walsh
Bess Flowers4 films together, 1943 to 1949
Bess Flowers's page
- Beyond the Forest1949IMDb rating 6.8Davis as Rosa MolineFlowers as Secretary
- A Stolen Life1946IMDb rating 7.2Davis as Kate Bosworth / Patricia BosworthFlowers as Department Store Shopper
- Mr. Skeffington1944IMDb rating 7.5Davis as Fanny TrellisFlowers as Mrs. Thatcher
- Old Acquaintance1943IMDb rating 7.4Davis as Kit MarloweFlowers as Club Patron
Donald Crisp4 films together, 1938 to 1939
Donald Crisp's page
- Juarez1939IMDb rating 6.8Davis as Empress Carlotta von HapsburgCrisp as Maréchal Bazaine
- The Old Maid1939IMDb rating 7.4Davis as Charlotte LovellCrisp as Doctor Lanskell
- The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0Davis as Queen ElizabethCrisp as Francis Bacon
- Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4Davis as Julie MarsdenCrisp as Dr. Livingstone
Michael CurtizDirector, 7 films, 1932 to 1939
All films by Michael Curtiz
- The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex1939IMDb rating 7.0Davis as Queen Elizabeth
- Kid Galahad1937IMDb rating 7.2Davis as Louise 'Fluff' Phillips
- Marked Woman1937IMDb rating 7.1Davis as Mary Dwight Strauber
- Front Page Woman1935IMDb rating 6.5Davis as Ellen Garfield
- Jimmy the Gent1934IMDb rating 6.6Davis as Joan Martin
- 20,000 Years in Sing Sing1932IMDb rating 6.8Davis as Fay Wilson
- The Cabin in the Cotton1932IMDb rating 6.6Davis as Madge Norwood
Irving RapperDirector, 4 films, 1942 to 1951
All films by Irving Rapper
- Another Man's Poison1951IMDb rating 6.8Davis as Janet Frobisher
- Deception1946IMDb rating 7.1Davis as Christine Radcliffe
- The Corn Is Green1945IMDb rating 7.3Davis as Miss Lilly Christabel Moffat
- Now, Voyager1942IMDb rating 7.8Davis as Charlotte Vale
William WylerDirector, 3 films, 1938 to 1941
All films by William Wyler
- The Little Foxes1941IMDb rating 7.9Davis as Regina Giddens
- The Letter1940IMDb rating 7.5Davis as Leslie Crosbie
- Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4Davis as Julie Marsden
Also four films together2 more actors
- Jerome CowanPocketful of Miracles (1961), Mr. Skeffington (1944), The Great Lie (1941) and The Old Maid (1939)
- Claude RainsDeception (1946), Mr. Skeffington (1944), Now, Voyager (1942) and Juarez (1939)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Bette Davis's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$78.1 million

15 of the 66 films have a worldwide figure.

15Worldwide figure
3US gross only
3Never in cinemas
45Figure not found

Top grosser

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982Doris Davermont$18.2 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 84% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982as Doris Davermont
$18M23.3% of the total
2
Death on the Nile1978as Mrs. Van Schuyler
$15M18.7% of the total
3
All About Eve1950as Margo
$8.4M10.8% of the total
4
Return from Witch Mountain1978as Letha
$6.4M8.2% of the total
5
Pocketful of Miracles1961as Apple Annie
$5.0M6.4% of the total
6
The Watcher in the Woods1980as Mrs. Aylwood
$5.0M6.4% of the total
7
Now, Voyager1942as Charlotte Vale
$4.2M5.4% of the total
8
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte1964as Charlotte
$4.0M5.1% of the total

Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943), $3.6 million

$12.3 millionfrom the other 7 films with a worldwide figure, 16% of the total

Awards

Twelve awards and honors from 1936 to 1989, five of them major.

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Bette Davis's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1939	Best Actress	Jezebel	Won
1936	Best Actress	Dangerous	Won
Emmy Awards
1979	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie	Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter	Won
	Emmy Award		Won
Venice Film Festival
	Volpi Cup for Best Actress		Won
Other honors
1989	Donostia Award		Won
1983	Crystal Award		Won
1977	AFI Life Achievement Award		Won
1977	Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress	Burnt Offerings	Won
	Kennedy Center Honors		Won
	Laurel Awards		Won
	Los Angeles Times Women of the Year Silver Cup		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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