Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an 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.
