Biography

In 1939, was traveling to Canada with her father aboard the 'Athenia' when it was torpedoed in the Irish Sea. She was one of the 1,306 survivors. Her father perished.

A French novel based on her character in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954), Miss Lonelyheart, was dedicated to her. Published under the title "Mademoiselle Coeur Solitaire" by author Sébastien Ortiz, it reprises many scenes of the movie, but under her point of view instead of main character Jefferies' (played by James Stewart) and is also inspired by her inner thoughts. [Éditions Gallimard, 2005, 149 p., ISBN 2070774643]

Reached a career peak in 1954 when she played "Miss Lonelyhearts" in Hitchcock's "Rear Window" as well as the Queen Mother in "The Egyptian.".

In addition to her role as "Miss Lonelyhearts" in Rear Window, Evelyn is also remembered for her performance as the terrified, deaf mute owner of a silent movie theatre who is sent into literal paroxysms of fear by Vincent Price in William Castle's 1959 horror/camp classic The Tingler.

Evelyn created the role of Ann Downs, the woman who drives her husband to a nervous breakdown, in the original Broadway production of "The Shrike". The role in the film version was played by June Allyson.