Here’s the news to brighten up your gloomy Tuesday: Bette Midler is starring as the one and only Mae West in Mae West, the story of the groundbreaking actress, singer, playwright, and sex symbol. William Friedkin and Jerry Weintraub are executive producers. While Harvey Fierstein is penning the script (of course).
The film is based on West’s autobiography, Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It, which chronicles her rise to fame, all while battling obscenity charges for her provocative work. Deadline reports:
Midler’s career path resembles that of West — she too made a name for herself onstage in New York (she made her Broadway debut in the chorus of Fiddler On The Roof) before segueing to features in her 30s for a successful movie career, which has earned her two Oscar nominations. Midler just started a three-week engagement at the Geffen Playhouse of I’ll Eat You Last after a successful Broadway run. Midler has been earning strong reviews for her portrayal of larger-than-life Hollywood agent Sue Mengers in the one-person play written by John Logan and directed by Joe Mantello.
Watch some of West’s best moments, and visualize Midler perfectly in the role: