Midler says it’s “uncanny” how well Bialik, who played Midler’s character as a child, captured her essence

Bette Midler credits Mayim Bialik for helping make the movie ‘Beaches’ a true hit.

The 1988 drama follows the deep and enduring friendship between two very different women: the reserved lawyer Hillary, played by Barbara Hershey, and the vivacious showgirl C.C., portrayed by Bette Midler. The story begins with their childhood meeting in Atlantic City, and continues through the ups and downs of their lives—including marriage, divorce, and illness.

In the film, a young Mayim Bialik plays the role of C.C. as a child. With her curly red wig that matched Midler’s, Bialik captured the confidence and essence of the character remarkably well.

Bialik, who is now famous for her roles in ‘Blossom’ and ‘The Big Bang Theory’, made a huge impression on the set, according to Midler. Bette could see the star quality in Bialik from the very beginning and believes that her performance played a crucial role in the movie’s success.

“Sometimes I feel that she was responsible for the success of that movie. I don’t think that they could even believe how similar to me in quality she was, how much of my essence she managed to capture,” Midler said.

On the film’s 30th anniversary in 2018, Bialik shared her own memories of working on ‘Beaches’. She recollected how both the director Garry Marshall and Bette Midler had to approve everything about her role.

“Bette didn’t like how elaborate the initial choreography was for my singing and dancing number; she herself re-did it and taught me the moves you see in the final movie,” Bialik shared on her website.

Bialik described the filming process as both exciting and challenging. They shot scenes in Los Angeles and Coney Island, New York, which stood in for Atlantic City. The young actress had to endure long, hot days on set, often wearing a heavy wig.

“These were long and hot days filming in a very hot and heavy wig. My mom would get me a Nathan’s hamburger for lunch (I was not vegan at the time!), and I would usually nap in my tiny trailer during lunch,” she revealed.

The long hours and the heavy wig were tough for a 12-year-old to handle. “Early mornings on set sitting in the wig chair for a solid hour and make up for another hour or so coupled with long days in the heat were hard for a 12-year-old — I needed to nap!” Bialik continued.

Even though ‘Beaches’ holds a special place for many fans, Bialik has mixed feelings about watching her younger self on screen. She admitted, “Beaches is hard for me to watch because I’m awkward and my voice is annoying to me and that’s just the truth. But I am so honored to have been a part of this movie which has touched so many lives and hearts.”

While ‘Beaches’ delved into the dramatic aspects of friendship, Midler’s new film ‘The Fabulous Four’ explores female connections with a comedic touch.

In ‘The Fabulous Four’, Midler plays Marilyn, a widow who reunites with her longtime friends, played by Sheryl Lee Ralph, Megan Mullally, and Susan Sarandon, when she remarries in Key West, Florida.

The movie promises plenty of laughs, including jokes about smoking pot and some risqué humor, all delivered by what Midler calls a “superb” cast.

‘The Fabulous Four’ is set to hit theaters on July 26.