Bette Davis Explains Why The Best Age For Women is 35 | The Dick Cavett Show

Visiting on New Year's Eve, two-time Academy Award winner Bette Davis discusses why she believes the best age for women is 35, along with why she's happy her oldest daughter didn't want to be an actress.

Date aired - December 31st 1969 - Bette Davis

Dick Cavett has been nominated for eleven Emmy awards (the most recent in 2012 for the HBO special, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again), and won three. Spanning five decades, Dick Cavett’s television career has defined excellence in the interview format. He started at ABC in 1968, and also enjoyed success on PBS, USA, and CNBC.

His most recent television successes were the September 2014 PBS special, Dick Cavett’s Watergate, followed April 2015 by Dick Cavett’s Vietnam. He has appeared in movies, tv specials, tv commercials, and several Broadway plays. He starred in an off-Broadway production ofHellman v. McCarthy in 2014 and reprised the role at Theatre 40 in LA February 2015.

Cavett has published four books beginning with Cavett (1974) and Eye on Cavett (1983), co-authored with Christopher Porterfield. His two recent books -- Talk Show: Confrontations, Pointed Commentary, and Off-Screen Secrets (2010) and Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic moments, and Assorted Hijinks(October 2014) are both collections of his online opinion column, written for The New York Times since 2007. Additionally, he has written for The New Yorker, TV Guide, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.

#thedickcavettshow

[JustAThought]

Man! She nailed it when she said, “Well, I was never tough. You just learned how to cope.” Honestly, I think that is a nugget of wisdom worth retaining.❤

[andyroo]

Dick Cavett was so lucky in his lifetime. To have interviewed hundreds of celebrities and all with such a casual, friendly demeanor. I was watching this interview and just fell into how casual the entire conversation was. Dick Cavett had a wonderful way of putting his guests at ease. Just imagine, sitting and talking the hour away with legends.

[josephsf]

Bette looks great here for 61 yrs old. this was filmed in 1969, there was no Botox or Juvederm . It was the au natural look. She pulled it off.

[djr]

An example of an icon. Nobody else like her, one of a kind, distinct talent . My all time favorite actress.

[mifnp]

She was right. 35 was a great age for me! I felt confident, looked great, and was very happy.

[pjesf]

Bette Davis was absolutely riveting. To have been able to sit down and chat with her would have been a dream. Love that lady❤️

[grant]

Bette davis all ways mesmerized me even when i was a young child you couldn't take your eyes off of her the way she move and talk a true star till the end but there really is no end her movies will live on . 7:59

[Irishgirl]

Her laugh was great and her voice so strong. Amazing actress & very interesting woman.

[Raughwe]

She’s amazing. A lot of affection in her, contrary to the stereotype. Probably a genius.

[zovalentine]

Rest in powerful peace 🙏
Bette Davis
5 April 1908 ~
6 October 1989⚘

[debbiemullen]

She was a true legend and he was an amazing interviewer.

[hypolyxa]

Absolutely love Bette... <3 And that laugh! Golden Age is like nothing else. FULL INTERVIEW, PLEASE

[redwoods]

I love the wisdom I have in my 60’s and I no longer care what anyone on this planet thinks of me.

[jeffbengert]

Amazing woman.... Her honesty, wisdom, confidence ring out true. I'm 58; love the great years - 30's, 40', 50', of classic Hollywood. Have no interest in anything over the last 30 years, really. I find it very interesting how today's youth have no interest in the past cinema. Bette, amazing woman, thank you.

[hayleyanna]

40 years old for me..I know who I am, I do not give a damn what people think of me and I am not so desperately insecure as I once was, constantly trying to please so many people. Bette Davis was fabulous. Bette, Lauren Bacall, Katherine Hepburn...Tough gals.❤

[jingb.]

She’s fabulous here, as ever! Always love hearing her perspective on things. I get so hooked when she speaks. One of a kind!

[denisefreitas]

Bette was amazing! Full interview, please!

[sharoninglima]

My absolute favorite actress of all time (GOAT). Loved her talent, tenacity, honesty and strength! Now Voyager is my favorite! ♥️♥️

[pedalever]

Betty was usually not an easy interview, but not with Cavett. But he was a master of the interview. He put her totally at ease.

[ianbauer]

Bette Davis always seemed tough, very intelligent, and sassy. A great dame of old Hollywood.