Bette Davis’ Former Assistant Reveals Intimate Details of Their Surrogate Mother-Daughter Relationship

Bette Davis' fierce animosity towards Joan Crawford did not wane after the death of her despised co-star in “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?”

An amusing anecdote about their post-mortem feud is shared in a delightful new book by Davis' former assistant, who unveils untold stories from the legendary actress' final years.

The book sheds light on the turbulent relationship Davis had with her daughter Barbara Hyman, known as Bede, which became the catalyst for their unique connection.

In 1985, Bede published a scathing tell-all book titled “My Mother's Keeper.”

This explosive exposé was so vicious that it posed a serious threat to Davis' health.

At the age of 77, Davis was already fragile after surviving a stroke.

In the book, Bede painted a picture of her mother as an emotionally abusive alcoholic, even alleging that Davis staged fake suicides to traumatize her children.

She also claimed that Davis physically abused her grandchildren.

However, Bede's friends later disputed these claims, portraying her as a spoiled celebrity daughter who needed more discipline from her mother.

The impending betrayal loomed as Sermak began working for Davis in 1979.

At the age of 22, Sermak formed a close bond with the actress, eventually becoming a surrogate for Bede.

Although Sermak failed to realize it initially, it becomes clear to readers that Davis' strained relationship with her daughter stemmed from her impossibly high standards.

Sermak quickly discovered that being loved by Bette Davis was no easy task.

Just two days into her job, Davis criticized Sermak's handshake, demanding that she shake her hand with more confidence and firmer grip.

Davis refused to let go until Sermak met her expectations.

During a stay at a hotel in Dover, England, the pair found themselves outside their room after a fire alarm went off.

However, Davis insisted that Sermak return to the room because she had forgotten her cigarettes.

Sermak dutifully complied with every request, but Davis still toyed with the idea of firing her.

Ultimately, she chose to educate Sermak instead.

Davis taught Sermak how to walk with her pelvis tilted forward and step as if she had a third leg between her two.

These were the confident strides that actresses made.

Davis also provided voice lessons to improve Sermak's diction and hired a butler to teach her formal table manners.

These were just a few examples of the many things Davis felt compelled to correct in Sermak.

Despite Davis' demanding nature, she also displayed love and generosity towards Sermak.

She enlisted celebrity hairstylist Jose Eber to give Sermak a new look and had Neiman-Marcus select an expensive wardrobe for her, including elegant dresses.

When Sermak's new beau invited her to a ball, Davis even hired a French seamstress to create a gown for the occasion.

Unsurprisingly, a rivalry developed between Sermak and Bede.

Although Sermak witnessed Davis' unwavering devotion to her daughter, she couldn't deny the disdain Davis harbored for Bede's husband, Jeremy Hyman.

Davis vehemently opposed their marriage due to the significant age difference – Bede was 16, and Jeremy was 29.

However, when Bede threatened to elope, Davis reluctantly accepted their union.

Bede and Jeremy settled on a Pennsylvania farm with their two sons, and Davis maintained regular contact, often sending checks to support them.

Despite Davis' continued financial support, tensions persisted.

These tensions reached a boiling point during a Fourth of July gathering at Davis' Long Island home when Bede and Jeremy joined Davis and her son Michael Merrill.

While Davis and Bede shared loving conversations in private, Jeremy would goad Davis, intentionally provoking her animosity.

This toxic dynamic was exacerbated by Davis' consumption of vodka and painkillers.

At one point, Jeremy even demanded that Davis clean a pail of clams, reducing her to tears as she refused to be treated like a servant.

In 1983, Davis underwent a mastectomy to remove a cancerous tumor before suffering a devastating stroke a few days later.

Against all odds, Davis fought back, although her battle was fraught with setbacks.

One memorable moment occurred when Davis hosted a dinner party for celebrity friends, including Jose Eber, Robert Wagner, and Jill St. John.

However, beneath the surface, Sermak feared for Davis' life.

Davis' attorney, Harold Schiff, had discovered that Bede planned to publish an exposé filled with vile accusations.

Fearing that Davis was too frail to handle the news, Schiff pleaded with Bede to delay the publication until Davis regained her strength.

Bede, however, insisted on surprising her mother with the book on Mother's Day, claiming that Davis would come to love it.

Schiff and Sermak, informed by Davis' doctors that she couldn't handle the revelation, were distressed by Bede's insistence.

Before leaving for England to film “Murder with Mirrors,” Davis briefly reunited with Bede, who visited her hotel room with a Bible, admonishing Davis for her sinful life.

Davis responded with politeness but confusion, as she didn't fully grasp that her daughter had become a born-again Christian.

While Davis was in London, Bede and Jeremy disappeared, ultimately turning up in the Bahamas.

It was in her dressing room on set that Davis received a call from her lawyer, informing her about Bede's book.

In a moment of despair, Davis believed Sermak had betrayed her by keeping the news of the book a secret.

Despite her heartbreak, Davis rallied and continued with her work, proving her professionalism and resilience.

Months later, after the book's publication, Davis and Sermak embarked on an unforgettable road trip across France.

During this journey, Davis began to fully grasp the extent of her daughter's betrayal.

She questioned whether Bede had signed the publishing contract immediately after learning that Davis only had a week to live.

Although Davis already knew the answer, the betrayal seemed to ignite a newfound zest for life.

Davis remained an icon but embraced a newfound sense of playfulness.

One day, she proudly posed behind a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in tight leather pants, a leather jacket, and a leather cap, earning applause from onlookers.

Initially devastated by the contents of “My Mother's Keeper,” Davis had lived each day in dread, fearing how her fans perceived her.

However, during their travels through France, she realized how much she still had to live for.

Sitting at a bistro table under a Coca-Cola umbrella, Davis couldn't resist a catty remark about Crawford, quipping, “No, Joan.

No Pepsi for me.”

This witty remark alluded to Crawford's marriage to Alfred Steele, the chairman of Pepsi-Cola Co., as well as her subsequent involvement with the Pepsico board of directors.

In 1989, Davis and Sermak returned to France, desperately seeking a miracle in Lourdes as Davis battled recurrent cancer.

Unfortunately, Davis was too ill to make it to the revered grotto.

At the age of 81, Davis passed away in Paris with Sermak by her side.

True to her promise, Sermak ensured that Davis looked her best in death, honoring their enduring bond.