The daughter of a lawyer and a fashion consultant made an education at the New York acting school and went in 1934 with a contract by MGM in Hollywood. After several minor roles, she was the role in 1940 by His Girl Friday to a star. Their talents were light comedies in which she excelled with wit, sarcasm and elegance. She was often seen as a business woman who falls in love with her male secretary (as in Take a Letter Darling) or as a woman with its own ideas (Roughly Speaking).

From the middle of the decade they began to work without a fixed studio contract and often performed in dramatic roles. However, leaned from her film career in the early 1950s to the end and she went back to Broadway, where they celebrated with the play Auntie Mame triumphs. She has also starred in the film, and began the second part of her career that lasted until 1971.

These alternated roles as well in Gypsy with several flops, like Five Fingers Exercise and Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad.

The actress was four times nominated for the Oscar: 1942 for My Sister Eileen, 1946, Sister Kenny, 1947 for Mourining Becomes Electra and 1958 for Auntie Mame. She also won several times on the Golden Globe. For their many humanitarian tasks, it was honored in 1972 with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, a special Oscar.

The strict Catholic all his life Russell was close friends with Loretta Young and Irene Dunne. Also with Joan Crawford, they cultivated a friendly relationship for decades.
Filmography:

The Women (1939)