Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was an American actress who was regarded as one of the most popular leading actresses of the 20th century theatre. Well-known for her husky voice, unique mannerisms, and overwhelming wit, she had worked in about 300 stage, film, television and radio projects. She had some prominent theater productions to her credit like ‘They Knew What They Wanted’ and ‘The Little Foxes’. She had contributed immensely in making Noël Coward's ‘Private Lives’ a smashing hit, taking it on tour and then to Broadway. She had a short yet successful career on radio, and gained acclaim for her strong performance in Alfred Hitchcock's film ‘Lifeboat’. She appeared in some classic TV series including ‘The Ford Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show’ and ‘Batman’, where she played the villain. Although Bankhead was infamous for her alcoholism, drug addiction, and scandalous sex life, she was known for her kindness and generosity as well. She supported orphaned kids and helped several families escape the Spanish Civil War and the World War II. She was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1972 and the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 1981.
