Betsy Blair was born in Cliffside, New Jersey, and began her career as a child model, later transitioning to a chorus dancer at the tender age of 15. Her early success on Broadway included a mini-break in "Panama Hattie" in 1940, followed by a lead role in William Saroyan's "The Beautiful People" the following year. It was during this time that she met dancer extraordinaire Gene Kelly and married him in 1940.
Although she had a background in dance, Betsy was not considered to be in the same league as other notable dancers of the time, such as Vera-Ellen, Cyd Charisse, or Ann Miller. As a result, she was never given the opportunity to dance alongside Gene Kelly in films. Moreover, she never appeared in a musical film.
Betsy made her large screen debut in 1947 and went on to appear in a number of above-average dramas, including "The Guilt of Janet Ames," "A Double Life," "The Snake Pit," and "Another Part of the Forest." Her performances were well-received, but her career was ultimately undone by her involvement in SAG politics and her suspected left-wing views.
In 1946, Betsy proposed the formation of the first Anti-Discrimination committee, which put her at odds with the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Her name appeared in "Red Channels," a publication that listed suspected communists in the entertainment industry, and she was subsequently blacklisted.
By the early 1950s, all film offers had dried up, and Betsy's career was all but over. However, her husband Gene Kelly threatened to stop shooting at MGM if they didn't let her work, and she was eventually cast in the 1955 film "Marty." The role of a lifetime for Betsy, she won numerous awards, including the Cannes Film and British Film acting awards, as well as an Oscar nomination.
Despite her success in "Marty," the blacklist continued to plague Betsy's career, and she was eventually divorced from Kelly and moved to Europe to avoid the Hollywood shun. She later lived with French actor Roger Pigaut and married producer/director Karel Reisz in 1963. They remained together until his death in 2002.
Betsy published her memoirs and discussed her life on Broadway, her marriage to Gene Kelly, and her experiences amid the blacklisting. She continued to live in England until her passing away from cancer on March 13, 2009, at the age of 85.
