She entered films 1930, and established a reputation as a forceful dramatic actress with Of Human Bondage 1934. Later films included Dangerous 1935 and Jezebel 1938, both winning her Academy Awards; All About Eve 1950; and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? 1962. She continued to make films throughout the 1980s such as The Whales of August 1987, in which she co-starred with Lillian Gish. Her screen trademarks were a clipped, precise diction and a flamboyant use of cigarettes. Her appeal to female audiences came from her portrayal of wilful, fiercely independent women who survived despite the adversities thrown at them.
