Betsy Blair was an American actress of film and stage, who spent a significant portion of her career based in London. Her journey in the entertainment industry began at the tender age of eight, and she went on to pursue a variety of roles, including amateur dancer, radio performer, and model, before joining the chorus of Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe in 1940.
It was during her time at Diamond Horseshoe that Blair met Gene Kelly, and the two would eventually get married in 1941, when Blair was just seventeen years old. However, their union would come to an end sixteen years later, in 1957, when they divorced.
After establishing herself in the theatre, Blair transitioned to film, taking on supporting roles in notable productions such as A Double Life (1947) and Another Part of the Forest (1948). Her involvement with Marxist ideology would later lead to an investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee, resulting in Blair being blacklisted for a period of time.
Despite this setback, Blair's career continued to flourish, with a standout performance in Marty (1955) earning her a BAFTA Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Throughout the remainder of her career, which spanned several decades, Blair continued to work regularly in theatre, film, and television, until the mid 1990s.
