Though she owed everything to her supportive mother Ruthie, Bette Davis remained fascinated all her life with her hard-to-please father, who walked out on his family when she was still a little girl. She could never forget the disappointment in his lack of interest and believed that her resentment toward him was a factor in her four failed marriages. Bette’s distinctive voice, remarkable eyes and astonishing range of characterisation all combined to make her one of the finest performers in film history. Drawing on extensive conversations with Bette over the last decade of her life, Chandler brings Bette to life as a dynamic forceful presence – whether as Jezebel the Southern beauty or plain Aunt Charlotte of Now, Voyager. There”s a few myths and legends debunked and some fabulous snippets revealed – such as she did her own make up for Whatever Happened To Baby Jane and literally scared herself. Chandler also spoke with directors, actors, and others who knew and worked with Davis, and includes brief synopses of all of her films. Illustrated with photographs.