Actress, singer, comedian and social activist, Bett Midler has proven that she is subject to almost everything. The owner of prestigious theater, music and film awards, at the moment she remains one of the most successful artists in America.
Biography, early years
Comedian, singer and actress Bette Midler was born December 1, 1945 in Honolulu, Hawaii. She grew up in a poor family of an artist and a housewife. Both of her parents, originally from New Jersey, came from Jewish immigrant families (from Russia, Poland and the Austro-Hungarian Empire).
According to her, school years were not easy for her. Bett preferred to hide from her problems, fleeing into nature. “Nature has always comforted me: beautiful skies, the sea, the smell of flowers, all these bugs and birds, ” Midler later said in an interview with Good Housekeeping. As a shy child, Bette eventually found an outlet in dramatic art. She won several talent contests, and it was she who was given the honor of giving a farewell speech at the graduation party of Radford High School.
Carier start
Bett continued her education in drama and art at the University of Hawaii, after which she was hired by an extras to shoot the adaptation film of James Michener's novel "Hawaii" in 1965. After that, she decided to follow her dream, giving performances in New York. After moving there, in 1966, Bette joined the troupe of the play “Violinist on the Roof”. But she was attracted to Broadway, and Bette was trying to find a way to penetrate the country's main theater stage.
Midler decided to give weekend performances at New York's popular Continental Baths gay club. Basically, she performed with comic sketches, and also performed comic verses under the name "Divine Miss M" (The Divine Miss M). At the piano, then, she was accompanied by an unknown Barry Manilow.
Success and rewards
Once at a performance, Midler was visited by the head of Atlantic Records. The comedian's voice interested him, and a contract was signed with the singer. Midler's debut album, entitled "The Divine Miss M" (1972), went platinum and earned her a Grammy Award for Best Debut. In 1973 and 1976, the albums "Bette Midler" and "Songs for the New Depression" were released. In 1974, Bette Midler received a special Tony Award for Special Contribution to Broadway for her series of concerts. In 1975, she launched a new Broadway show, "Clams On the Halfshelf Revue, " which lasted several weeks.
For several years, Midler tried herself in the cinema, but she could not advance further than episodic roles, which did not give anything in a creative sense. In 1979, Bette Midler finally proved her acting talent in the musical The Rose (1979), playing the role of a self-destructive rock star. For this role, Midler received a Academy Award nomination. However, in 1982, her next film "Jinxed" failed at the box office, after which Midler suffered a long creative crisis.
However, already in 1986, the actress returned immediately with two hits: “Penniless in Beverly Hills” and “Ruthless People”. The success of these films was reinforced by the drama “On the Beach” that followed in 1988, in which the ballad “Wind Beneath My Wings” sounded. For her, the actress again received a Grammy Award.
In the 90s, the actress and singer continued her successful film career, starring in the movie "Scenes in the Store" along with Woody Allen. In 1991, Midler also took part in the musical for the Second World War "For the Boys" ("For The Boys"), for which she received an Oscar nomination.
In 1996, Beth Midler returned to the comic role in the movie "First Wives Club" with Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn.
Later years
Bette Midler entered the new millennium with the new television show "Bette", but it was taken off the air after the first season. In 2004, she took part in the remake of the 70s thriller "Stepford Wives" with Nicole Kidman and Glenn Close, and in the movie "So She Found Me" with Colin Firth and Helen Hunt.
In 2006, Midler recorded the new album "Cool Yule", in 2007 received a Grammy for this work. The following year, it was officially announced that Midler signed a contract with AEG Live to host performances at the Las Vegas hotel and Caesar's Palace casino chain. Her show "Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On" started in February 2008 and lasted 2 years.
In 2012, Bette Midler was awarded the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award in the Composers Hall of Fame. In the same year she appeared in the comedy "Parental Mayhem".
Midler then returned to Broadway in the show "I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers", playing the role of the famous actress and Hollywood agent Sue Mengers. The show was built in the dialogue format of one actor. In 2014, she first appeared at the Academy Awards as an invited guest. Following this, Bette Midler released the album “It's the Girls!”, The cover of which parodied photographs of girl groups.
In 2017, Midler was approved for the lead role of Dolly in the revived Broadway legendary show "Hello, Dolly!" Her play earned critical acclaim and presented the Tony Award for Best Musical Actress.
