Top 5 Favorite Bette Midler Roles
Broadway is buzzing with the news that legendary actress Bette Midler will be returning to the Great White Way in spring 2017. Midler will play Dolly Levi in the fourth revival of the Tony Award winning musical, Hello, Dolly! After making her Broadway debut in Fiddler on the Roof in 1964, Midler has gone on to have an extremely successful career as a performer, garnering Tony, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Grammy awards. Though we have over a year to wait to see this shining star back on stage, we have compiled a list of our top 5 favorite Bette Midler roles:
- Winnie in Hocus Pocus
Midler was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Actress for her role in the Halloween themed flick. The movie has since gone on to become a classic, and we love watching Midler’s portrayal of the resurrected witch on a mission to stay alive.
2. Mama Rose in Gypsy
Watching Midler belt out “Everything’s Coming up Roses” was truly an incredible moment. Midler was awarded a Golden Globe award for her role in the Sondheim musical, and we are positive that her performance in Hello, Dolly! will be just as memorable.
3. Brenda Cushman in The First Wives Club
What could be better than Midler as a sassy, Sicilian, Jewish divorcee out to get revenge on her ex-husband? We absolutely loved seeing her in this role alongside costars Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn. Though the film received mixed reviews, with only a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, it was definitely a hit with us!
4. C. C. Bloom in Beaches
What a coincidence that the musical version of Beaches is eyeing a Broadway bow around the same time as Hello, Dolly! Though we loved Shoshana Bean’s portrayal of the role this past June at the Drury Lane Theatre, Midler won our hearts over in the 1988 film, showing us how strong a true friendship can really be, even when you’re thousands of miles apart.
5. Mary Rose Foster in The Rose
Even though we love seeing Midler portraying hilarious, comedic roles, her performance of an overwhelmed, self destructive rock star in this 1960s flick was truly spectacular. Though it was only her first big film role, Midler stunned us all with her unforgettable performance.
What are your favorite Bette Midler roles? Leave a comment below and let us know!
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