her character has still Seen Stuff, enough stuff for us to understand that she's definitely someone who has Been There even if There is now thirty years removed from the Depression.

"When you've been through Herbert and J. Edgar Hoover / Anything else is a laugh . . ."

And her world-weary experience both in-character and from out of Hollywood colors her every move and reaction and decision. Her survivors are as tough as Stanwyck's are.

I love this description of Blondell. Her monologue in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)! She's like the secret weapon of every film she's been in.