Was named Miss Florida Fruits and Vegetables in 1949
Originally worked as a dancer and a magician's assistant
Film debut was in Easy to Love in 1953
Appeared on Broadway in All Summer Long in 1955, which led Elia Kazan and Tennessee Williams to cast her, instead of Marilyn Monroe, in the title role of Baby Doll
Was a member of the famed Actors Studio
Felt she was blacklisted by Hollywood in the late 1960s, so she moved to Italy and starred in numerous horror and exploitation flicks
Made a comeback in the U
S
in 1977 by starring in Andy Warhol's Bad
Prominent supporting roles in The Watcher in the Woods, Star 80 and Ironweed brought her back to acclaim in America during the 1980s
Published Baby Doll: An Autobiography in 1983; also wrote the non-fiction To Africa With Love and the novel A Roman Tale
Awards
1957Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama:nominated
1957Golden Globe-New Star of the Year - Actress:winner
1957BAFTA Film Awards-Best Foreign Actress:nominated
1956Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:nominated