Lauren Bacall "Cactus Flower" (1965), "Applause" (1970), and "Woman of the Year" (1981). She won Tony Awards for her performances in the latter two. "Applause" was a musical version of the film "All About Eve", in which Bette Davis had starred as stage diva Margo Channing. According to Bacall's autobiography, she and a girlfriend won an opportunity in 1940 to meet her idol Bette Davis at Davis' hotel. Years later, Davis visited Bacall backstage to congratulate her on her performance in "Applause". Davis told Bacall, "You're the only one who could have played the part." The few films Bacall made during this
Carol Channing Andrews for helping her develop her character: "She will forever be my angel," she says. Due to her success on Broadway in "Hello Dolly!" and her co-starring role in "Thoroughly Modern Millie", Channing attracted the attentions of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who were interested in starring her in a sitcom. Directed and produced by Arnaz and written by Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Davis (who co-wrote "I Love Lucy" and "The Lucy Show"), "The Carol Channing Show" starred Channing as Carol Hunnicut, a small-town girl trying and failing to make it in New York City show business. Character actors