1. Vicious Sister: Infamous Screen Actress Feuds
Women are naturally competitive. The competition is not just about who looks the
best in a particular dress; it’s about how each woman relates to the world around
her. Who gets the most compliments? Who has the best relationships with men?
And who can keep her cool in a crisis? Ultimately, these contests bring out the best
in both women. These 6 pairings illustrate how lashing together opposing forces
encourages women to reach their full potential, even if they have to break each
other’s hearts along the way.
(1) Joan Crawford and Bette Davis (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?)
Davis, the queen of snark, and Joan, the queen of drama, didn’t hold back in what
is widely considered to be one of the finest double bills in cinema. Each woman
shines here, but only because she’s being pushed to the limit by her opponent. Had
a less powerful woman replaced either lead, the movie wouldn’t have become a
masterpiece of tension, cunning, and wild emotional power. In real life, bisexual
Joan apparently was enraged that heterosexual Bette didn’t return her romantic
feelings, leading to some brutal confrontations on set that resulted in the need for
stitches. To get even, Joan stole the love of Bette’s life and turned him into her
second husband. The drama on-screen mirrors that of the tangled web off-screen.
(2) Alyssa Milano and Shannen Doherty (Charmed)
Shannen Doherty has created an image of a cold, ruthless striver, while Alyssa
Milano has always had a softer, yet equally tough public persona. When these two
played opposite each other in the supernatural television series “Charmed,” they
demonstrated how effective this combination could be in terms of solving
problems. Their characters were sisters who represented a particularly prestigious
lineage of witches, and frequently used their different strengths to keep various
manifestations of evil at bay. Unfortunately, sparks frequently flew off-screen as
well: Shannen apparently quit the show because she could no longer stand talking
to Alyssa. Regardless, there’s no denying that Alyssa and Shannen helped each
other hone their particular acting chops in real-life and on-screen. “Charmed” is
one of the longest running TV series with a principally female cast.
(3) Eve Plumb and Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch)
What makes “The Brady Bunch” so compelling decades after it initially aired? The
family dynamic is strong, but the relationship between Eve and Maureen (Marcia

2. and Jan Brady) attracted particular notice for its inherent power struggles and
emotionally charged fights. The relationship between these two was so intriguing
that it lead to several spin-offs, including a special about their eventual marriages
and a 10-episode sitcom about their married life. Even in marriage, it seems, the
women were bound to compete with one another. What’s particularly enlivening
about their relationship is that it ultimately forced both of them to very clearly
define their individual characteristics without abandoning their tight, sisterly bond.
In real life, the two actresses had a falling-out when McCormick claimed that she
and Plumb had had a lesbian affair.
(4) Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City)
It’s rare that two incredibly beautiful, sexually confident women become best
friends. From the moment that Sarah and Kim joined the cast of “Sex in the City,”
rumors flew that the two had an intense rivalry based on power struggles on set.
While there are always difficulties when two large egos clash, the fact that both
women were magnetizing stars on their own amped up speculation that the two
were constantly battling for top billing. Whatever the reality of the on-set
dynamics, while Sarah Jessica Parker was ultimately the star of the show, Kim
Cattrall attracted a loyal following of her own. Both women ultimately benefitted
from the perceived feud.
(5) Victoria Jackson, Nora Dunn and Jan Hooks (SNL)
“Saturday Night Live” has long been described as a boy’s club. While certain
female cast mates have managed to forge lasting, deep bonds (think Tina Fey and
Amy Poehler), other women have hated each other’s guts. Victoria Jackson
apparently hated her castmates Nora and Jan, although Nora and Jan didn’t exactly
have a tight sisterhood of their own. When Sinead O’Connor decided to boycott a
show hosted by Andrew Dice Clay, Dunn stood with her—and received her
walking papers at the end of the season.
(6) Betty White and Bea Arthur (Golden Girls)
Much like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, Betty and Bea weren’t bosom buddies,
even though they had to play nice throughout their years together on “The Golden
Girls.” Although Betty claims she “admired” Bea, Bea apparently did not return
the sentiment.