Mank: Was Marion Davies REALLY that bad?

Okay, so I finally got around to watching "Mank." I know, I'm late to the party! But with the kids back in school, I actually had a whole afternoon to myself (bliss!). Anyway, the movie was...interesting. It's definitely not something I'd watch with the kiddos, obviously, but as a film about film, I appreciated it. Here's what I've been mulling over, though: Marion Davies. The way she's portrayed in "Mank" vs. how I've read about her makes me wonder if they took major liberties for dramatic effect. I mean, sure, it's Hollywood, so embellishment is kinda their thing. But the film really pushes this narrative that she was this ditzy, talentless actress only there because of Hearst. I've read accounts saying she was actually quite funny and had a real knack for comedic timing. Was Mank just being overly cynical (and maybe fueled by a bit too much booze, let's be real) or was there more truth to the way she was shown? I'm not saying she was some unsung genius, but it feels like the movie really leaned into the whole "arm candy" trope for her character, which I found kinda unfair. Especially considering the real-life power dynamics at play back then. Maybe it's just my mom-radar going off, but it felt like she was being used as a convenient punching bag to make Hearst look even more monstrous and Mank look like more of a tormented (and misunderstood) artist. Thoughts? I haven't read too much about the actual history, so maybe I'm way off base here. Also, side note: Amanda Seyfried was fantastic! She really pulled off the sort of old-Hollywood glamour, even if I still feel a little weird about the character itself. Anyway, would love to hear what you all thought!