The early 40s saw Davis's popularity continue to grow with such films as All This, And Heaven Too (1940), The Letter (1940), and The Little Foxes (1941), plus her role as an oppressed spinster who blossoms into a vital woman of the world in Now Voyager (1942) and a vain society woman in Mr. Skefffington (1944). In 1941, she became the first woman to head the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Alao in 1941 saw Bette's second marriage to businessman Aurthur Farnsworth, who widowed her 3 years later after an untimely end. Bette had divorced Ham Nelson in 1938 after the enormous pressures associated with her professional drive, took it's toll on the relationship.

During World War II, she managed the Hollywood Canteen, a club where movie stars entertained and served the soldiers fighting in the war. She was also the president of the Hollywood Canteen Foundation, which donated money for various services for the soldiers. Forty years later, she received the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, the Defense Department's highest civilian award for her efforts.

Her stature grew with every film she made in the early 40s; but by the end of the decade her career seemed headed for oblivion. To compound matters, was the demise of her third short-lived marriage in 1945 to artist William Grant Sherry. This was a volatile and destructive pairing that Davis admitted was a bad idea from the start. The only good thing to come from their union, by Davis' own admission was the birth of her daughter, Barbara Davis Sherry, (BD), 1n 1947.

After being horribly miscast in the now camp classic, Beyond The Forest, Davis left the Warners lot for the last time in 1949, terminating her 17 year professional relationship with the Studio. By all accounts, this decision was mutual with Davis buying out the remainder of her contract. This must have been a time of extreme uncertainty for the now forty year-old actress, who could no longer depend on the protection of a big studio contract.

The indomitable Miss Davis then countered with one of her greatest performances, in All About Eve (1950), for which she was named best actress by the New York Film Critics. It was on the set of 'Eve' that Davis met and fell in love with her fourth husband, actor Gary Merrill. After the brief resurgence in her career was over, The Merrill's packed-up and moved into a sprawling oceanfront house in Cape Elizabeth, Maine they called "Witch Way." Their family now included adopted children Michael and Margot. Margot was later to be dignosed as mentally handicapped.

After a few stormy years of trying to establish a "normal" domestic existence in Maine, Bette returned to Hollywood in an attempt to refurbish her film career. Late in the 50s, her career as well as her marriage, again faltered. After attempting to tour together on the stage, Bette and Gary divorced. This was her longest lasting marriage, and her last walk down the alter. Merrill being just as strong-willed as Davis, and willing take her on, left her somewhat battered after the experience. She swore she would never marry again, and she kept her word. This was also a difficult period professionally, when she resorted to advertising for work in the trade press.

But she emerged triumphant in the early 60s, this time with a couple of made-to-measure horror films, What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? and Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte. She received another Academy Award nomination for the former film, her 10th Oscar nomination, more than any other actress. She was still active nearly 30 years after the beginning of her screen career. Miss Davis authored a frank, intelligent autobiography, The Lonely Life in 1962. She elaborated on her memoires a biography, Mother Goddam (1974) by Whitney Styne.

Despite her private life, Miss Davis continued her reign as one of the screen's grandest, most durable stars. In 1977 she became the fifth recipient of the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, the first woman to be so honored. She was also awarded a special Cesar by the French film industry and in 1987 was honored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center at its annual tribute for cinema's greats. Although her film projects were few and far between during this period, she made many appearances in made-for-television movies, some of which were considere to be of high quality.

Although she had undergone a mastectomy in 1983 and suffered several strokes during her hospitalization, she resumed performing and making public appearances with characteristic courage. Davis's daughter, BD Hyman, stunned many of Davis's admirers when in 1985, in the book My Mother's Keeper, she portrayed her mother as a domineering, abusive, grotesque alcoholic. Miss Davis refuted the allegations in 1987, in an updated autobiography, This 'N That. She died at 81 in France, en route back from another life achievement tribute, at the San Sebastian Film Festival. As she had requested, her tombstone read "She did it the hard way."