Captivating Close-Up: Bette Midler

Bette Midler (born December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress and comedienne, also known (by her informal stage name) as The Divine Miss M. During her career, she has won four Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards. She is noted as having sold over 100 million records worldwide.

Midler lent her voice to the animated character Georgette, a snobbish poodle, in Disney's Oliver & Company (1989). In 1990, she co-starred with Woody Allen in Scenes from a Mall, again for Mazursky. She earned another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for 1991's For the Boys co-starring with James Caan and directed by Mark Rydell, who had also directed The Rose. She reportedly turned down the lead role in 1992's Sister Act, which instead went to Whoopi Goldberg. Other films include Hocus Pocus (1993), The First Wives Club (1996), and The Stepford Wives (2004).

Midler has a Vegas show titled "Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On" at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The show has approximately 400 shows in a two year run. The show comprises The Staggering Harlettes, twenty female dancers and a thirteen piece band. Midler is reportedly being paid $40 million per year for her 200 shows. The show debuted on February 20, 2008.

Source: Wikipedia