Tales from a Pepsi Queen

Bette

Let's chat about a sister under the skin, Bette Davis. She had a demon in her soul to succeed, and of course, that was something I could relate to, that gnawing hunger to attain a dream. We both came from poor backgrounds, we both had Father's that really didn't want us, and we were both utterly alone in our quests and always felt utterly alone. However, don't feel sorry for us because having an overwhelming ambition doesn't leave much room to love anyone else but ourselves and our dream. What I didn't admire about her was her childish cruelty and suffocating ego directed at belittling my talent. She also made a play for Franchot when she knew he was my lover. So on a professional and private basis the woman got under my skin. Yet, what I did find incredibly inspiring about her was her gift for acting. Sometimes when I gave Saturday night dinners I ran two of her films, so great was my admiration for her talent. What frustrated me was her determination to be as dismissive and rude and yes, hurtful to me, personally. Now I know that I suffer from having a simpatico rating of zero sometimes, but oh, she and I could have done many wonderful things together. I will say this of which I am very proud of, whenever film people construct lists of the most influential women in cinema, Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis and I are always placed in a rarefied elite group, and so I suppose our dual dreams of achievement have been answered, but oh, at what a cost!