Biografia

Owns and runs an antique shop in Pasadena specializing in romantic Victorian furnishings She has a grown daughter, is songwriting and recording again and completed a musical based on "The Trial of the Century".

With the advent of Cinemascope, Twentieth Century-Fox sent a half-dozen preview scenes of Como Agarrar um Milionário (1953) to distributors worldwide showcasing the new process. Austin played the nearsighted "Loco" in these previews, with the original cast (Betty Grable, Lauren Bacall, David Wayne) playing their parts. In the completed film, Marilyn Monroe played the role of "Loco", with Charlotte playing the role of "Ding-Dong". Austin played the role of "Loco" again in the pilot for the TV series How to Marry a Millionaire (1957). Barbara Eden played the role in the final series. All cast members were replaced (with the exception of Lori Nelson), as was the director, John Rich (of Tudo em Família (1971)) fame.

Interviewed about her horror/sci-fi movies in "It Came from Horrorwood: Interviews with Moviemakers in the SF and Horror Tradition" by Tom Weaver (McFarland, 1996).

Her singing voice for "Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder" was dubbed by Jo Ann Greer, a noted vocalist who also sang for Rita Hayworth, Esther Williams, Kim Novak and Gloria Grahame.

Her 1958 film A Noiva e a Besta (1958), written by Edward D. Wood Jr., was released on DVD, newly remastered, in the spring of 2002 by Retromedia. VCI's later DVD release of the movie featured an audio commentary with Austin, supporting player Trustin Howard (aka Slick Slavin), gorilla movie expert Bob Burns and interviewer Tom Weaver.