Daughter of bit part actor James Donlan.
Scored a personal success first in Boston, then on the London stage as Billie Dawn in "Born Yesterday" and decided to settle in England, where she continued filming.
She began her film career in the late 30s playing tiny parts (Pennies from Heaven (1936), Rosalie (1937), Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)) under her real name, and as either Yolande Mallott or Yolande Mollot.