Natacha Rambova, the second wife of Rudolph Valentino, arranged a screen test for Loy, which she failed. She kept auditioning and in 1925 appeared in the Rambova-penned movie What Price Beauty? opposite Rambova and Nita Naldi. Her silent film roles were mainly those of vampish exotic women. For a few years she struggled to overcome this stereotype with many producers and directors believing that Read more...

After appearing with Ramón Novarro in The Barbarian (1933), Loy landed the part that established her as a major actress, Nora Charles in The Thin Man (1934). Director W. S. Van Dyke chose Loy after he detected a wit and sense of humor that her previous films had not revealed. At a Hollywood party, he pushed her into a swimming pool to test her reaction, and felt that her aplomb in handling the Read more...

She returned to films with The Best Years of Our Lives in 1946, playing the wife of returning serviceman Fredric March. In later years, Loy considered this film her proudest acting achievement. Throughout her career, she had championed the rights of black actors and characters to be depicted with dignity on film.

Loy was paired with Cary Grant in David O. Selznick's comedy film The Bachelor Read more...