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.
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| Organization | Category | Movie | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Actress | Juarez | Won |
| Academy Awards | Best Actress | The Letter | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Actress | Now, Voyager | Won |
| Golden Globes | Best Actress | Sweet Smell of Success | Won |
| Academy Awards | Best Actor | The Rose | Nominated |
| Golden Globes | Best Actress | Advise & Consent | Nominated |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Actress | All About Eve | Nominated |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Actress | The Actress | Nominated |
The Dark Secret of Harvest Home
as Widow Fortune
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Jan 23, 1978
Little Gloria... Happy at Last
as Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Oct 24, 1982
Perry Mason
as Constant Doyle
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 21, 1957
Gunsmoke
as Etta Stone
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 10, 1955
General Electric Theater
as Miss Burrows
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Feb 01, 1953
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Mrs. Minnie Kennedy, Aimee's mother
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Dec 24, 1951
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Miss Fox
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 02, 1955
The Virginian
as Celia Miller
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 19, 1962
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
as Irene Van Buren
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 05, 1951
The 20th Century Fox Hour
as Marie Hoke
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 05, 1955
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
as Sarah Whitney
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 21, 1959
Wagon Train
as Ella Lindstrom
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 18, 1957
General Electric Theater
as Christine Marlowe
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Feb 01, 1953
Hello Mother, Goodbye!
as Mother
Episodes: 1
First Aired: May 15, 1974
It Takes a Thief
as Bessie Grindel
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 09, 1968
Suspicion
as Mrs. Wilfred Ellis
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 30, 1957
The Ford Television Theatre
as Dolley Madison
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 02, 1952
The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - Guest
Episodes: 7
First Aired: Jun 06, 1968
The Oscars
as Self
Episodes: 5
First Aired: Mar 19, 1953
What's My Line?
as Self - Mystery Guest
Episodes: 5
First Aired: Feb 02, 1950
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
Episodes: 4
First Aired: Oct 01, 1962
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
as Self
Episodes: 3
First Aired: Apr 02, 1973
V.I.P. Schaukel
as Self
Episodes: 2
First Aired: May 09, 1971
The Hollywood Palace
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 04, 1964
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 05, 1956
Telephone Time
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Apr 08, 1956
The Kennedy Center Honors
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Dec 28, 1978
Talking Pictures
as Self (archive footage)
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 05, 2013
Intimate Portrait
as Self (archive footage)
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Nov 14, 1993
Laugh-In
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 05, 1977
Tony Awards
as Self - Presenter
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Apr 01, 1956
Reflets de Cannes
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Mar 25, 1954
Parkinson
as Self (archive footage)
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 09, 1998
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self - Co-Host
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Dec 11, 1961
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Presenter
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 20, 1944
Dinah!
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 21, 1974
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Feb 05, 1967
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 34 | 51 | 17 |
| 2024 | 6 | 29 | 45 | 12 |
| 2024 | 7 | 38 | 57 | 19 |
| 2024 | 8 | 27 | 54 | 14 |
| 2024 | 9 | 35 | 63 | 15 |
| 2024 | 10 | 14 | 19 | 9 |
| 2024 | 11 | 13 | 19 | 9 |
| 2024 | 12 | 16 | 27 | 11 |
| 2025 | 1 | 19 | 35 | 10 |
| 2025 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Trending Rank
| Year | Month | Avg Rank | Max Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 524 | 79 |
| 2024 | 6 | 535 | 107 |
| 2025 | 1 | 435 | 20 |
| 2025 | 2 | 712 | 511 |
| 2025 | 7 | 233 | 68 |
| 2025 | 8 | 614 | 559 |