In a stroke of casting genius, Bette Midler has signed on to star in HBO's upcoming biopic about Old Hollywood glamourpuss Mae West, based on West's autobiography, Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It.  William Friedkin (The Exorcist) is directing and Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots) is writing the script.

Mae West will chronicle the bawdy babes' scandalous Broadway show, Sex, which ultimately landed her in jail for 10 days for "corrupting the morals of youth."  Midler recently garnered critical praise channeling another ballsy babe, superagent Sue Mengers, in the one woman show I'll Eat You Last.

Gaze upon West's wondrous womanliness, below!