Named after actress Bette Davis, Midler's vivacious personality and powerful
voice have made her a hugely popular all-round entertainer. Brought up in
Honolulu, she studied drama at the University of Hawaii, appearing as an extra
in the 1966 film Hawaii. She used the money to move to New York, appeared in
various stage shows - including Fiddler On The Roof - and sang in clubs,
accompanied on piano by Barry Manilow, who produced her first album The Divine
Miss M. America took her to its heart after a bubbly appearance on TV show
Tonight and the album went on to sell a million copi...