Bette Midler reveals Bette Davis disapproved of her namesake status

Bette Midler, often referred to as the “Divine Miss M,” recently disclosed that Hollywood legend Bette Davis was not pleased to learn that Midler was named after her. Midler made this revelation during an appearance on Hoda Kotb’s “Making Space” podcast.

Midler, who boasts an illustrious career with three Emmys, three Grammys, two Tony Awards, and two Oscar nominations, explained that while her father was a straightforward and blue-collar individual, the decision to name her after Davis was made by her mother. “My mother was more airy-fairy. My mother had imagination. She had dreams. She wanted to speak French. It was lovely. And so I have both of these people tugging at me all the time. And my mother named me for Bette Davis, which Bette Davis was not pleased to hear,” Midler said.

When asked why Davis, who passed away in 1989, disliked the namesake tribute, Midler admitted she was unsure. “Who knows?” she responded. She then recounted an awkward encounter with Davis at Elizabeth Taylor’s 60th birthday party, where Davis was offended by Midler’s casual appearance. “She showed up. And she said — and she was very offended that I had come to this event without putting on the dog. So she made that very clear. And then she wound up talking the whole night to Bob Dylan. So I can’t imagine what he said to her,” Midler shared.

The incident left a lasting impression on Midler, who noted, “I was a little bit hurt.”

Interestingly, Midler was not the only one in her family to be named after a Hollywood star. “We were all named for [actors],” she revealed. “My sister Judy was Judy Garland. My sister Susan, Susan Hayward. And I was Bette Davis. Although I pronounced it ‘Bet,’ she pronounced it ‘Betty.’”