Dark-haired American-born actress who went to finishing school in Arundel, England. After dancing in London nightclubs, she spent her apprenticeship on stage ('The Little Earthquake',1933,as a cockney maid) and in minor British films. She made her Hollywood debut in 'Bolero' (1934) and was thereafter typecast as damsels in distress opposite horror stars Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. Paramount changed her birth name from Frances Dean because it sounded to similar to another of their stars, Frances Dee.
Married into English Aristocracy
Started out as a nightclub dancer in London.