Bette Davis of the thirties and into the forties", achieving notability for the variety of her characterizations and her ability to assert herself, even when her material was mediocre. Individual performances continued to receive praise; in 1987, Bill Collins analyzed "The Letter" (1940), and described her performance as "a brilliant, subtle achievement", and wrote: "Bette Davis makes Leslie Crosbie one of the most extraordinary females in movies." In a 2000 review for "All About Eve" (1950), Roger Ebert noted: "Davis was a character, an icon with a grand style; so, even her excesses are realistic." In 2006, "Premiere" magazine ranked her portrayal
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