Trivia

An ardent supporter of civil rights, Bankhead was the first white woman to appear on the cover of Ebony magazine. She also appeared on the covers of TIME and LIFE.

She was said to be the inspiration for the character of Cruella De Vil in Walt Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961).

Her role as the Black Widow on the television series Batman (1966) is the last on-screen appearance she made.

She smoked around 120 cigarettes a day.

Once told an interviewer that the reason she addressed everyone she saw as "Dahling" was because she was bad at remembering names.

Her last coherent words were "Codeine... bourbon".

Tennessee Williams wrote four characters for her: Myra Torrance in "Battle of Angels", Blanche DuBois in "A Streetcar Named Desire", Princess Kosmonopolis in "Sweet Bird of Youth" and Flora Goforth in "The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore".

She was infamous for not wearing underwear. According to Hume Cronyn, during the filming of Lifeboat (1944) the crew complained about her flashing them when she had to climb a ladder to go into the mock-up of a lifeboat. When their objections to Bankhead's exhibitionism reached director Alfred Hitchcock, he reportedly quipped that he did not know if it was a matter for wardrobe or hairdressing.

She is credited with helping Harry S. Truman win the 1948 election by publicly castigating rival candidate Dewey. Truman claimed that her 1952 autobiography was the best book he had read since coming to the White House.

Her mother died of complications from childbirth shortly after she was born. According to actress Hedy Lamarr, who met Tallulah when the latter was doing stage work in Vienna - in an interview, shortly before her own death - until the day she died, Tallulah had blamed herself for her mother's death. Evan Tallulah's father could not convince her otherwise.

She was a member of a clique of lesbians and bisexuals in the Algonquin round table called the "Four Horseman of the Algonquin", consisting of her, Eva Le Gallienne, Blyth Daly, and Estelle Winwood.

Loved jazz music and was a mainstay at many popular jazz clubs in New York and Los Angeles.

Her father was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1936 to 1940.

Was an avid baseball fan, especially of the New York Giants and Willie Mays.

Sent to Catholic convent schools by her father in the hopes (unrealized) that she would learn to stay out of trouble.

At a press conference once, she said, "I'm so glad to see there's a man here from the New York Times, because if I say 'goddammit', they will print it 'good heavens' or 'good gracious.'".

She was close friends with Zelda Fitzgerald and Estelle Winwood.

According to friend Patsy Kelly, Bankhead used the monogram TBB because when she originally used TB, it was jokingly said to stand for "Total Bitch.".

Irving Rapper said the actress's screen test for Amanda Wingfield in "The Glass Menagerie" was the greatest performance he had ever seen in his life. Jack Warner feared casting two alcoholics in the film (Errol Flynn had already been cast), and though Tallulah promised not to drink during filming, the role was given to Gertrude Lawrence, whose acting was panned by most critics.

She narrowly missed out getting the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939), which went to Vivien Leigh.

In 1949, Procter and Gamble launched a radio advertising campaign for its Prell shampoo, using a jingle and the character "Tallulah the Tube". Miss Bankhead was so closely identified by her first name that she sued, eventually settling out of court.

Originated the female lead in Clifford Odets' "Clash by Night" on Broadway. The role was taken by Barbara Stanwyck in the movie. She also originated the Broadway lead in "Forsaking All Others", which became a Joan Crawford vehicle, and "Dark Victory" and "The Little Foxes", both which became Bette Davis vehicles - to her chagrin.

Was an animal lover who collected assorted pets, including a pet lion named Winston Churchill, a myna bird named Gaylord, and a monkey named King Kong.

Was considered for the role of Margo Channing in All About Eve (1950) after Claudette Colbert dropped out due to a back injury before filming began. However, Bette Davis, who went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.

Named after the Tallulah Falls in Georgia.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1961 Tony Award as Best Actress (Dramatic) for "Midgie Purvis".

In a training module used for the Lowes Corporation that educates its associates on how to successfully Add - Modify a Sales Order, her name is listed in the scenario as being the customer to whom the order is being prepared, altered, and submitted for.

Considered one of the "Great Ladies" of 20th century Broadway, she also conquered other mediums - appearing on film, radio, and television.

The screen credit for her role as the Black Widow on the television series "Batman" (1966) is "Miss Tallulah Bankhead".

Profiled in the book "Funny Ladies" by Stephen Silverman (1999).

Father: William B. Bankhead; Mother: Adeline E. Sledge.

Portrayed by Natasha Lyonne in "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" (2021).

Was referenced in the 1958 song "Give Him the Ooh-La-La" by Blossom Dearie.

Described by theatrical legend Lynn Fontanne as the greatest natural talent of her time.

Portrayed by Paget Brewster on the FX television series Ryan Murphy's "Hollywood".

Portrayed by Christina Bennett Lind in Z: The Beginning of Everything (2015).