Bette Davis Eyes

In this business, until you’re known as a monster you’re not a star
Bette Davis

Today we celebrate the birth of Bette Davis: an icon of golden Hollywood. In trying to research her I’ve become throughly aware of how little I know about her. Countless people have spent countless hours writing biographies on her. I thought about summarizing her body of work but my god there is just simply too much of it for this novice!

Since Bette got the Ryan Murphy treatment last season the paramount association that contemporary culture has with her is her feud with Joan Crawford. I, myself are very guilty being wrapped up in this aspect; however but my obsession started with a viewing of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? many years ago when I found the movie on AMC. It’s very interesting to have a camp sensibility as a child when you don’t fully know what camp is. However, I always knew what camp truly was in my bones. I distinctly remember the scene in Baby Jane when she serves Blanche the rat and being appalled and enthralled all at once. To this day anything that can give me those two feelings together always has the M Maccarone seal of approval. I also recall being very confused that Joan Crawford could be playing the sympathetic character. (Mommie Dearest was another favorite cinematic masterpiece of my youth but that deserves another post altogether.)

So instead of a book report about Bette, instead I share with you what she has given to me (even with my woeful knowledge of her movies.) To me she represents someone who was never considered beautiful being given the chance to be a woman taking up space in Hollywood. She represents someone who let her bluntness be her brand and that is something to be celebrated.

My two formative Bette Davis movies are All About Eve and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? so I decided to try and capture Bette’s likeness as much as I can in a photo shoot. Shout out to my great aunt’s mink and candy cigarettes for sponsoring these photos. PS- After trying to get my hair like hers for a long time I tried using directional pin curls in my hair for the first time and it was a success!