Betta St. John, a talented and captivating actress, was born on November 26, 1929, in Hawthorne, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. As a child, she was part of the renowned Meglin Kiddies troupe, and her early passion for performance led her to enter the world of cinema at the tender age of 10. Her first film appearance was in the classic western Destry Rides Again (1939),where she sang Marlene Dietrich's iconic song "Little Joe" alongside the legendary actress and James Stewart.
Betta's early career was marked by appearances in various films, including an Our Gang short and unbilled roles in Jane Eyre (1943) and Lydia (1941). She also explored modeling as a profession. Her remarkable talent did not go unnoticed, and the esteemed musical team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein soon recognized her potential. In 1945, they cast her in a small role in the Broadway production of "Carousel".
Four years later, Betta was handpicked by Rodgers and Hammerstein to play the exotic role of "Liat" in their groundbreaking musical "South Pacific", starring Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza. The show's massive success on Broadway led to a London tour, where she met and worked alongside British opera singer Peter Grant, who played Lt. Cable. The two married on November 27, 1952, and remained together until his passing in 1992.
Betta's Broadway success paved the way for her return to the film industry. She made her adult debut in the 1953 film Dream Wife, playing the role of Tarji, a princess courted by Cary Grant. This marked the beginning of her "B"-level co-star/featured parts in numerous exotic eastern and western adventures throughout the 1950s. Some of her notable roles during this period include Miriam in The Robe (1953),Lady Iolanthe in The Saracen Blade (1954),Princess Johanna in The Student Prince (1954),and Lady Iolanthe in The Law vs. Billy the Kid (1954).
Betta continued to work in films, television, and theater, making guest appearances on TV in both the United States and England. She co-starred with Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee in the British-made horror film Corridors of Blood (1958) and appeared alongside Lee again in The City of the Dead (1960). Her final film appearance was in Tarzan the Magnificent (1960) before she retired from the entertainment industry.
