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Bette Midler Says Bette Davis Was Unhappy She Was Named After Her
Bette Midler once shared an awkward and unforgettable encounter with legendary Hollywood actress Bette Davis after finally meeting the woman she had been named after. While many fans might imagine the moment as flattering or emotional, Midler admitted the meeting turned out to be far more uncomfortable than expected.
The singer and actress recalled the story during an appearance on Hoda Kotb’s Making Space podcast, where she reflected on how her mother chose her name specifically because she admired the iconic film star. But according to Midler, Davis herself was far less enthusiastic about hearing the tribute.
Bette Midler and Bette Davis Meeting Didn’t Go As Expected
Bette Middler/ImageCollect
According to People, the two actresses crossed paths at Elizabeth Taylor’s 60th birthday party years ago. At the time, Midler had recently become a new mother and admitted she arrived at the glamorous event feeling exhausted and far from red-carpet ready. The Bette Midler and Bette Davis encounter reportedly turned awkward almost immediately after Midler explained that her mother had named her in Davis’ honor. Instead of feeling touched, Davis apparently took offense to both the revelation and Midler’s casual appearance at the star-studded party.
Photo by: Doug Peters/starmaxinc.com STAR MAX 2014 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Telephone/Fax: (212) 995-1196 3/2/14 Bette Midler at the 86th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars). (Hollywood, CA)
Midler joked that in those days she did not have a professional glam team preparing her for events and simply styled herself before attending. Meanwhile, Davis reportedly spent most of the evening speaking with Bob Dylan, leaving Midler feeling somewhat hurt and out of place during the interaction.
Her Mother’s Hollywood-Inspired Naming Tradition Continued Through The Family
Fan Pop
The Bette Midler, Bette Davis story also revealed that Midler’s mother had a long tradition of naming her children after famous Hollywood stars. Midler explained that her family also named her sisters Judy and Susan after Judy Garland and Susan Hayward, continuing their admiration for classic Hollywood icons. Despite the awkward interaction with Davis, Midler still spoke fondly about her mother’s excitement over her eventual success in entertainment. She shared that her mother lived long enough to witness major milestones in her career, including seeing The Rose before passing away during the 1980s.
DARK VICTORY, Bette Davis, portrait by George Hurrell, 1939
Now 78 years old, Midler remains one of entertainment’s most beloved performers, with multiple Grammys, Emmys, and decades of acclaimed work across music, television, film, and Broadway. Most recently, she has been promoting the comedy film The Fabulous Four alongside Susan Sarandon, Megan Mullally, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Even decades later, the unusual story about finally meeting her famous namesake continues standing out as one of Midler’s most memorable celebrity encounters.
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