Mildred Hillary Davis, a talented American actress, was born on February 22, 1901, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Howard Beckett Davis. She received her education at the esteemed Friends School in Philadelphia, where she likely developed her passion for the performing arts. After completing her studies, Davis ventured to Los Angeles in pursuit of a role in a film, a bold move that would shape her future in the entertainment industry.
Initially, Davis appeared in several small roles, but it wasn't until she caught the attention of renowned filmmaker Hal Roach that her career began to take off. Roach introduced Davis to comedian Harold Lloyd, who was seeking a new leading lady to replace the departing Bebe Daniels. Lloyd was impressed by Davis' talent and cast her in his comedy short From Hand to Mouth in 1919, marking the beginning of their collaboration on fifteen films together.
On February 10, 1923, Davis married Lloyd, and it was announced that she would no longer appear in motion pictures. However, after much persuasion and heartache, Davis eventually received Lloyd's consent to return to the screen in Too Many Crooks, a film produced by Lloyd's production company. This marked the only acting role Davis undertook after her marriage to Lloyd.
