Born in London during a German zeppelin bombing

Wrote and produced her first play, "Mademoiselle", at age seven

Suffered from polio as a child

Joined a touring theater company

First film appearance (a bit) in "The Love Race", directed by her uncle, Lupino Lane

Official film acting debut at age 14 in "Her First Affaire", promoted as "the English Jean Harlow"

Went to US under contract to Paramount; tested (unsuccessfully) for "Alice in Wonderland"

US film debut in "Search for Beauty"

Left film acting for about a year after the failure of "Fight for Your Lady"; spent time writing and composing music, including the score for one of her father's shows and a piece, "Aladdin Suite", performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic

Achieved star status with "The Light That Failed"

Signed contract with Warner Bros.

Reported in "Picturegoer" magazine that "she gave up a contract at $1700 a week rather than play in unsuitable stories"

First film as producer (uncredited co-producer), "Young Widow"

Left Warner Bros.

Formed Arcadia Productions with Benedict Bogeaus; no films produced

First film credited as producer (also first film for own company, Emerald Productions, Inc. which she co-founded with Collier Young and Anson Bond and named after her mother), "The Judge"

Performed her own songs, including "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)", for her role as a nightclub singer in the film noir, "Road House"

Took over directing "Not Wanted" for an ailing Elmer Clifton; uncredited

Credited feature film directing and co-writing debut, "Never Fear"

Changed name of production company to The Filmakers; took on writer Marvin Wald as another partner

Joined with David Niven, Dick Powell and Charles Boyer to form Four Star Productions

Reportedly helmed portions of the feature "On Dangerous Ground" while director Nicholas Ray was ill

Appeared on a rotating basis (with David Niven, Charles Boyer and Dick Powell) on "Four Star Playhouse", a CBS-TV dramatic anthology series

Formed Bridget Productions (named after her daughter by Howard Duff)

Acted in last feature films for 13 years, "While the City Sleeps" and "Strange Intruder"

Directed episodes of TV series such as "Have Gun--Will Travel" (the episode "Lady With a Gun" 1959), "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (ep. "Sybilla" 1960), "The Untouchables" (ep. "Man in the Cooler" 1963) and "The Fugitive" (ep. "The Glass Tightrope" 1963)

Produced, co-starred (opposite then-husband Howard Duff) and directed episodes of the CBS sitcom, "Mr. Adams and Eve"

Directed last feature film, "The Trouble with Angels"

Returned to acting in feature films in "Backtrack"

Appeared in cameo role in only film of the 1980s, "Deadhead Miles"

Health declined; moved to Motion Picture Home

Featured in footage used in "American Lifestyles", a six-part compilation film using material from the "March of Time" newsreels from 1939 to 1950