Bette Davis has gone down in history as probably one of the most mysterious actresses because of how she did not fit into the typical standards of beauty created by society during her time. She was not deemed particularly beautiful, but was able to perform really well in her films. However, there was a real question of what qualified her as a true “star.” Although she had many successful films and did really well at creating credible characters, she was always doubted because she was not exceptionally beautiful, and was very private. For once, a woman in Hollywood was popular for her acting skills and talent, instead of just her beauty. What drove the media and public absolutely mad was how private Bette Davis was, and especially in regards to her marriages and sexuality in general. “Despite Davis’s public image of female strength, determination, independence and professionalism, there remained something unfathomable about her private self: namely, her passions and sexuality.” (Shingler and Gledhill 2008). Audiences constantly feel like they are entitled to know these private facts about Hollywood stars, and the lack of information raises a lot of questions. While people continued to consume her films hoping to gain more clues, it always still remained a mystery to audiences why she was so private about her sexuality. Actresses like Bette Davis were crucial for laying the groundwork for women who are worth more than just their looks.
I personally feel that Bette Davis was quite beautiful, and even resembled many physical traits of Marilyn Monroe. It is quite sad that Davis was devalued as an actress because she was only talented, but not sexually attractive to men. In this photo below, she has the blonde hair, large eyes with long eyelashes, a cute nose and full lips, all of which were considered beautiful in her time.
Even today women in Hollywood are devalued if they are not viewed as “beautiful.” Women who are plus sized are often cast into comedic roles, as that is often seen as one of their only uses in Hollywood because they are not a “classic beauty.” Many actress’s of color are rarely cast as leading stars in romance movies because they are not a “classic beauty” even though they are just as talented and just as beautiful as the white actresses who end up getting cast instead. Beauty should not be all women are graded on or judged on, instead they should be judged on their character, talent, ideas, and humor. Because these women are who audiences consume so much of, it is important to cast women on more than beauty. If films only cast women based on their looks, what are we teaching the audiences who consume these films and TV shows, when they constantly only see the same kind of woman playing the same kind of roles? It is crucial we begin to put men and women in a variety of different roles which showcase different sets of physical traits. It is time Hollywood looks beyond the beauty or sexuality of women, and cast them based on their talents.