Anne Darling

Brunette, blue-eyed Anne Darling never made much headway in Hollywood despite taking elocution lessons and appearing in amateur dramatics. She was very pretty, too, and an accomplished ballroom dancer to boot. None of that paved the way to a career in showbiz. She did manage a successful audition which led to a contract with Universal. There, she spent the 1934-35 season relegated to uncredited bit parts. The one role we may remember her for is as the shepherdess rescued from drowning by Boris Karloff's monster in Bride of Frankenstein (1935). At this time, the head of Mascot Pictures was scouting for a pert leading lady to appear opposite a rising cowboy star named Gene Autry. Apparently, he had his sights firmly on Anne. Alas, too late: Anne had just gotten married and her new husband was opposed to her working. Thus, after fourteen films, Anne Darling left acting and faded into obscurity.