An Austrian-born actress, she began her career on the European stage and gained prominence in German-speaking films during the 1930s. Her striking presence and talent led her to Hollywood, where she signed with MGM. Despite a promising start, her career in the American film industry was brief, with notable performances in a few films, including opposite Spencer Tracy. She married acclaimed director Joseph L. Mankiewicz and stepped away from acting to focus on her family. Her life was marked by personal struggles and a tragic end.