- Her contract with MGM came to an end in 1938 when she sued them after being abruptly replaced by Greer Garson in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939). She won the suit, but then MGM sued her and won, before blacklisting her.
- In later years, she became popular on TV panel games such as What's My Line (1951).
- Briefly a kindergarten teacher before becoming an actress.
- Her family moved to Darlington, South Durham, where she attended Polam Hall School and won a gold medal in elocution.
- From making her film debut in 1931 in Alibi she had the lead in' Inquest' in 1939.
- She trained at The Old Vic, toured in 'Gentlemen, the King' and made her West End debut in 'Michael and Mary' in 1930.
- Success in the film 'Service For Ladies' got her attention in America and a contract with MGM.
- Youngest of six children born to Dr. Alexander William and Amelia Allan.
- She died in the Victoria Nursing Home at Hove in Sussex.
- Agent Wilfred (Bill) J. O'Bryen became her husband in 1932 and took a major interest in her career. He later became a senior executive with Alexander Korda and Michael Bacon. He died in 1977.
- She was head girl at Polam Hall School and while there appeared in As You Like It.
- At Polam School she was coached by Mrs Guthrie Liddiard and won a silver trophy for elocution.
- Trained at the Old Vic before moving into British films in 1931.
- Was a boarder at Darlington s Polam Hall School between 1923 and 1927.
- Made her stage debut at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, London in September 1927, and her film debut in Alibi (1931), an Agatha Christie mystery. A few years later she was in Hollywood filming A Tale of Two Cities (1935) with Ronald Colman and Camille (1936) with Greta Garbo. She returned to England in 1938 and did regular stage and TV work until the late-1950s.
- While at Polam Hall School in Darlington she won the Elocution Cup in 1927.
- Trained at The Old Vic.
- 1967 she had to give up work for 10 year in order to care for her husband who was very ill.
- Made her stage debut in Taming of the Shrew at the Lyric Hammersmith.
- She attended the Guild Hall School of Music and Drama and received Honors and a Gold Medal.
- She devised Swap Shop (1988) for television which ran for 2 years on Southern television.
- 1932 made her American film debut in Chinese Puzzle at MGM in Hollyood.
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