- In the 1950s, she was a member of the inspirational group The Christophers in which its mission was to use positive action to create a better world in such areas as political fairness, aiding the poor and sick, and helping those with addictions to alcohol and drugs. Other members included Loretta Young, Irene Dunne, Ricardo Montalban, Don Ameche, James Cagney and Bob Hope.
- Blyth caused jaws to drop and eyebrows to raise at the 1954 Oscar broadcast when she sang Doris Day's nominated (and eventual winning) song "Secret Love" from the movie Calamity Jane (1953) while seven months pregnant.
- Blyth broke her back while tobogganing in Snow Valley not long after Mildred Pierce (1945) was released nationwide. She endured a six-month convalescence.
- As of 2022, she is the earliest surviving recipient of a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. She was nominated in 1945 for Mildred Pierce (1945).
- Supposedly her own beautiful voice was dubbed in The Helen Morgan Story (1957) by singer Gogi Grant because it was too classically-trained and high-pitched.
- Blyth was reportedly gifted a Cadillac and a swimming pool by eccentric mogul and producer Howard Hughes in 1951, several years before her engagement and marriage to Dr. James McNulty, with whom she would have five children.
- She is a donor to such groups and charities as the Republican National Committee, the March of Dimes, the American Bible Society, the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, and Salesian Missions.
- She is a staunch conservative Republican and throughout the years had supported Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush.
- For decades, she maintained her primary residence in the upscale San Fernando Valley community of Toluca Lake.
- In the 1970s, she was the commercial spokesperson for Hostess Cupcakes.
- Son Timothy Patrick was born June 10, 1954. Daughter Maureen Ann was born December 14, 1955. Daughter Kathleen Mary was born December 23, 1957. Son Terence Grady was born December 9, 1960. Daughter Eileen Alana was born April 10, 1963. (All were born in Los Angeles County.).
- She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6733 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
- She and her husband were awarded the rank of Lady and Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by Cardinal Cooke in 1971.
- Once geared towards an operatic career studying with the San Carlo Opera Company.
- Appeared with Donald O'Connor in four films: Bowery to Broadway (1944), Chip Off the Old Block (1944), The Merry Monahans (1944) and The Buster Keaton Story (1957).
- Was under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer until 1956.
- Blyth's character, "Veda", in Mildred Pierce (1945), was portrayed by Sarah Molasky in the FX series, Feud (2017) (episode: "The Other Woman"). The character of Veda in HBO's Mildred Pierce (2011), however, was not a killer as the series was faithful to the original novel, in which no murder took place. The murder was added to spice up the film version (Mildred Pierce (1945)) and make it more compelling for film-goers of the time.
- Was the recipient of the Living Legacy Award by the Women's International Center in 2003.
- Blyth's mother was the Irish-born and bred Annie ("Nan") Lynch (June 30, 1896 - July 22, 1946), who died at age 50 in Los Angeles, California. Blyth's father, Harry Blythe (Ann later amended the surname by dropping the "e"), was reportedly of Irish stock as well. Blyth had an elder sister, Dorothy.
- She was born on the same day as actress and singer Eydie Gorme.
- In Italy, she was often dubbed by Fiorella Betti and Rosetta Calavetta. Occasionally, she was also dubbed by Lydia Simoneschi, Renata Marini, Micaela Giustiniani and Rina Morelli, most notably in the role of Veda Pierce in Mildred Pierce (1945).
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content