Morgan Fairchild was one of television’s most glamorous stars, while Johnny Carson was the undisputed king of late-night television.

For a time, the two were romantically involved — and according to Fairchild, people around Hollywood thought the relationship might lead to marriage.

But that’s not what happened.

Fairchild recently revealed that she was the one who ended the relationship with Carson.

For years, she says, many people simply assumed America’s most famous late-night host had dumped the beautiful blonde actress.

Fairchild knew otherwise.

And apparently, so did Bette Davis.

Fairchild recalled attending a large Hollywood gala when she suddenly felt someone tap her on the shoulder.

She turned around.

Standing there was Bette Davis, dressed for the evening.

The legendary actress leaned toward Fairchild and delivered a characteristically direct verdict:

“You were quite right to dump him.”

Fairchild was stunned.

It sounded, she later joked, like something straight out of a Bette Davis movie.

But the moment meant something deeper to her.

Davis knew Carson personally from her numerous appearances on The Tonight Show, and Fairchild felt that Davis understood something many others hadn’t: Carson hadn’t rejected Fairchild.

Fairchild had made the decision herself.

That unexpected encounter wasn’t the end of their story.

Fairchild later worked with Davis on the 1983 pilot of Hotel. She arrived nervous, having heard plenty of stories about the formidable Hollywood legend.

Instead, Davis surprised her again.

She praised Fairchild’s acting and even singled out her performance in The Seduction.

Fairchild recalled that after spending the day talking, Davis essentially “adopted” her.

The two women remained friends through the 1980s.

Decades later, Fairchild still remembers that first blunt show of support.

It was only a few words from one Hollywood legend to another rising star.

But sometimes a few words are all it takes to make a moment unforgettable.