2017-04-05 Wed

"I'd luv to kiss ya, but I just washed my hair" –Bette Davis.

Bette Davis, one of the most versatile American actresses was born today, 5th April 1908. Her raw, unbridled intensity kept her at the top of her profession for 50 years. She is also known for her large blue eyes, her ironic and often biting sense of humor and her portrayal of strong female characters.

Her first Broadway debut was "Broken Dishes" (1929) and "Solid South" followed soon after. She was then hired by Universal Pictures but dropped after a series of disappointing films. They believed she had no ‘sex appeal' and her performance in ‘The Bad Sister' was criticized.

In 1932, on the urging of actor Murray Kinnell, she was signed by Warner Brothers for "The Man Who Played God" (1932). As her performance was positively received, Warner Brothers' signed her to a 7-year contract. She later tried to sue the contract for not getting enough money and good roles but lost. However, Warner Brothers' now gave her a better pay and extremely challenging roles.

She was lent to RKO Radio Pictures to play a vicious and unsympathetic Mildred in "Of Human Bondage" (1934); however, politics in the industry ensured she never got an award for this. But, she soon won Oscars for "Dangerous" (1935) and "Jezebel" (1938).

After many unsuccessful films in the 1940s, she made a comeback in 1950 with "All About Eve". She received another Oscar nomination for her role as a demented former child star in "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962).

In 1977, she became the first woman to receive the American Film Institute Lifetime Achieve Award. Married four times, her life has been portrayed in her autobiographies "The Lonely Life" (1962) and "This ‘n' That" (1987). She died of cancer on 6th October 1989.

United States Postal Service issued this 42 US Cents commemorative stamp of Davis on 18th September 1908, celebrating 100 years of her birth.