Bette Davis's Life in Photos
This visual journey through Davis's iconic career spans her early days at Warner Bros. through to All About Eve and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
A silver screen legend and trailblazer, Bette Davis is an indelible part of Hollywood history. From her early days as a Warner Bros. studio player to her acclaimed later roles in All About Eve and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Davis's acting talent and unique charisma made her one of the defining actresses of her age. Take a look through Davis's life in pictures below.
Bad Sister (1931)
Bette Davis made her film debut in the Universal Studios movie Bad Sister. The film, a pre-Code drama about a young woman who falls for a con artist, was not a commercial success, and Davis was apparently so distressed and insecure in her performance that she left a preview screening early, convinced that her Hollywood career was over.
The Man Who Played God (1932)
After a string of unsuccessful films, Universal opted not to renew Davis's contract. She was on the brink of leaving Los Angeles to return to New York when actor George Arliss chose her to star opposite him in the Warner Bros. film The Man Who Played God, which became her big break. Here, she is pictured at the film's premiere in 1932.
1931
A portrait of Bette Davis taken for Warner Bros. Studios in 1931, when she signed her contract with the studio following the success of The Man Who Played God. She would remain at the studio for the next 18 years.
1931
In another portrait for Warner Bros., Davis wears a ballgown in front of a mirrored wall.
1931
A portrait of Davis taken circa 1931.
1932
One of Davis's early roles was as an infatuated flapper in The Rich Are Always With Us.
1934
Here, Davis is pictured in a scene from the film Of Human Bondage (1934). Her performance was critically acclaimed, and was regarded as one of her early breakthrough roles.
Front Page Woman (1935)
Davis played the role of a reporter in the Warner Bros. comedy Front Page Woman.
Dangerous (1935)
Davis's performance as a down-and-out actress in the drama Dangerous led to her first Oscar nomination in the Best Actress category, which she ultimately won. She would go on to be nominated in this category another nine times, winning once more in 1938 for Jezebel. Here, she's pictured with co-star Franchot Tone.
1935
Davis in another still from Dangerous, the movie that would win her her first Academy Award.
The Golden Arrow (1936)
Davis is pictured on set with her co-star George Brent. The pair are rehearsing their roles in The Golden Arrow, which was rushed into theaters despite lukewarm early reactions, because Warner Bros. was eager to capitalize on Davis's Oscar win.
The Petrified Forest (1936)
The Petrified Forest, in which Davis starred with Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart, was based on the Broadway show of the same name.
March 4, 1937
Davis is pictured with an unidentified man during the 9th annual Academy Awards banquet, held at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.
1938 Tailwaggers Party
Davis held a "Tailwaggers Party" in 1938, a benefit to raise money for stray dogs. In this image, she holds up a puppy that was raffled off to raise money.
1939
Davis played Queen Elizabeth I in The Virgin Queen (1939).
1940
1940 brought Davis's most commercially successful project to date, the Warner Bros. drama All This, And Heaven Too. Here, Davis is pictured performing a radio version of her role.
With husband Harmon Nelson
Davis is pictured here with her first husband Harmon Oscar Nelson, Jr. in Los Angeles. The couple, who first met at boarding school in Massachusetts, were married in 1932 and divorced in 1938.
1940
Davis greets a fan as she arrives at an event in Los Angeles, California.
1941
Davis in a publicity portrait for the 1941 drama The Little Foxes, for which she received her fifth Oscar nomination.
1941
Davis and her male co-star George Brent in a scene from the 1941 Warner Brothers drama The Great Lie.
Emma Dibdin is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles who writes about culture, mental health, and true crime. She loves owls, hates cilantro, and can find the queer subtext in literally anything.
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