The Politician Star Bette Midler Talks Entertainers and Real Politics

Bette Midler, winner of four Golden Globes, three Grammys, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award, may be adding to her impressive accolades with another Emmy as the actress is up for the coveted award for guesting on HBO’s The Politician as political manager Hadassah Gold.

Bette Midler On Politics

And though her character is deeply involved in politics with Dede (Judith Light) as they fight Peyton (Ben Platt) in Season 2 of the series, the actress told the Los Angeles Times that she’s not interested in running for office herself and believes entertainers should probably keep away from the presidency.

“I was the president of my [high school] class, and the other wing tried to impeach me,” Midler shared. “I never forgot it. The reason they tried to impeach me was that I didn’t know Robert’s Rules of Order. But you know what? I don’t think I’m smart enough.

“I don’t think you can be a pinhead like some of these guys we see now, these used-car salesmen who think they’ll make a profit ripping someone off. I’m just … I’m an entertainer. [H]e’s an entertainer, that’s what’s so … horrible. He thinks this is show business. He makes us all look bad.”

Midler also spoke about her days during the pandemic, saying she’s had good and bad days like everyone going through this horrible time.

“I’ve never lived through anything like this,” she said. “There’s a lot of reflecting going on; we’re all sitting around and saying, ‘What did I do with my life? What was my life?’ I’m 74 years old; if I die tomorrow, I’m going to say, ‘Where did the time go?’”

While Midler was the darling of Broadway a few years ago starring as the titular character in Hello Dolly, and has still sold out crowds with her live shows, she’s not sure if she’ll ever tour again, devoting her time to other outlets.

“Let’s get real here. Mostly I’m interested in philanthropy. I mostly think about my daughter, who recently got married; I think about my husband and my charity [the New York Restoration Project]. I’d like to make life easier for a lot of other people,” she said. “I think I’ve had my hour on the stage, and I’ve had a wonderful time. But I don’t know what’s going to come up. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”