Trivia

Started her working life as a switchboard operator in a commerce bank. Did some sittings as a photographer's model, then first show business job in the chorus line of 'Mademoiselle Modiste' at the age of eighteen. Trained as a singer and appeared on stage in 'Iolanthe' (1913,New York) and 'Parsifal' (1915,Paris). Worked as a vaudeville comedienne at the Palace in New York till commencement of her movie career in 1929.

Was in four Oscar Best Picture nominees: L'extravagant Mr. Deeds (1936), Cette sacrée vérité (1937), Kitty Foyle (1940) and Les oubliés (1941).

Hollywood character actress with whitish hair cut like a man's, often in roles as a general "know-it-all.".