In over five decades, Midler has given us that magic in her concerts, albums, films, TV shows and on stage. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, at 14 she began doing statewide speech competitions. Her teachers Myrna Ishimoto and Betty Blake took Midler under their wing as she ultimately became state champion, made her way to the mainland and stardom. “They were fabulous to me. Mrs. Ishimoto took me to the first restaurant I ever went to,” Midler told this reporter after winning the 2017 Tony Award for her show stopping performance in Hello, Dolly! “I was really, really poor and she showed me that there was another way.” That other way would serve her well. Ever resourceful, she has always been one to define her career on her own terms, putting herself in the proverbial driver’s seat. “I figured it out early: if you didn’t get cast, or didn’t care to play the game, you’d better figure out how to put on your own show,” she said while being honored at Variety’s 2019 Power of Women event. With all she has accomplished, Midler says one of her proudest gifts has been founding the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) in 1995. A fierce and devoted crusader for New York City’s most neglected spaces, Midler and her crew have been rescuing parks and gardens in underserved neighborhoods all over New York City. Referring to herself as the “Marie Kondo of the outdoors,” Midler and her NYRP team has designed over 52 community gardens, hauled aways tons and tons of trash from public spaces, planted over two million trees and more. As she said in her Power of Women speech. “I have done two fabulous things in my life: I raised a great kid [daughter , Sophie von Haselberg] and founded this organization.” Along her journey, Midler has made over 15 albums, sold more than 30 million records and starred in countless films. I’ve been very, very lucky,” Midler told Robin Roberts. “I don’t sing the greatest. I certainly don’t dance the greatest. I’m funny. There’s no question that I’m funny. I’m not the most beautiful, but I’m raucous and I give people a good time, and I think people really like to have a good time.” From singing to sorcery, the Divine Miss M has always kept us entertained on the big screen as well as the stage. Here are our 10 favorite Bette Midler roles. We say she’s the greatest!
Best Bette Midler Roles
The Rose(1979)
Loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin, Midler’s performance of a tumultuous ’60s rocker won her a Golden Globe award and was nominated for an Oscar.
Divine Madness(1980)
Telling jokes and singing songs, Midler and the Harlettes take the stage at California’s Pasadena Civic Auditorium in this docu-concert film.
Down and Out in Beverly Hills(1986)
Richard Dreyfuss and Nick Nolte star alongside Midler in this dark social comedy based on a French play, which also features a Little Richard performance.
Ruthless People(1986)
Danny DeVito hates his wife (Midler) so much that, when she’s kidnapped for ransom, he “ruthlessly” turns a blind eye, confusing her money-hungry captors, including Judge Reinhold.
Beaches(1988)
Childhood friends Hillary (Barbara Hershey) and CC (Midler) show up for each other during the best and worst times of their adult lives.
For the Boys(1991)
Midler received her second Best Actress Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination as a WWII singer and dancer performing for the troops alongside a famous entertainer (James Caan).
Hocus Pocus (1993)
The Halloween classic featuring three immortality-seeking witches (Kathy Najimy, Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker) is now set for a Disney+ sequel.
The First Wives Club(1996)
Mourning the death of their friend, former college pals (Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Midler) seek revenge upon their cheating ex-husbands.
The Stepford Wives(2004)
An all-star cast of Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Glenn Close, Faith Hill and Midler star in this comedic remake of the 1975 horror film about a mysterious Connecticut suburb.
The Glorias(2020)
History-making journalist-activist Gloria Steinem’s life story is told in this biographical drama, starring Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander as Steinem and Midler as U.S. Rep. Bella Abzug. Next, Gloria Steinem on Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Legacy Check out our gallery of Bette Midler photos throughout the years.
