Bette Davis of Margo Channing in the film as fifth on their list of 100 Greatest Performances of All Time, commenting: "There is something deliciously audacious about her gleeful willingness to play such unattractive emotions as jealousy, bitterness, and neediness." While reviewing "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962) in 2008, Ebert asserted that, "No one who has seen the film will ever forget her." A few months before her death in 1989, Davis was one of several actors featured on the cover of "Life" magazine. In a film retrospective that celebrated the films and stars of 1939, "Life" concluded that Davis
Bette Davis filmography manipulated by an obsessed fan. The film was one of the biggest hits of 1950, and she was again nominated for an Academy Award, but lost to Judy Holliday. Although Davis earned strong reviews for her performance in "The Star" (1952), her career waned throughout the remainder of the decade. Beginning in the 1960s, Davis received yet another revival in popularity. Although her appearance in "Pocketful of Miracles" (1961) was negatively received, she earned praise for her portrayal of the faded child star, Jane Hudson, in "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962), which garnered her a final nomination for