- A model, singer, and chorine by the time she entered films, she initially went by her birth name, Donna Lee Hickey, but five out of her first six roles were uncredited, with the sixth being her first credited one, and under her birth name. When she won the role of May Wynn in the classic The Caine Mutiny (1954), she adopted the name of this character for herself, a tactic employed by actor Gig Young in the 1940s.
- She worked as a longtime school aide for Our Lady Queen Of Angels Catholic School in Newport Beach, California for 28 years starting in 1989 where she taught handwriting and after-school public speaking classes.
- She tested for the role of the prostitute Alma in From Here to Eternity (1953) but lost out after the studio decided to gamble on the fresh-faced innocence of Donna Reed. Reed won an Oscar for her supporting work here.
- In late December 1952, she was part of a USO tour that entertained troops in Korea. In addition to her, the tour included Paul Douglas, Jan Sterling, Richard Allan, Walter Pidgeon, Keenan Wynn, Barbara Ruick, Peggy King, Carleton Carpenter, Carolina Cotton, Beverly Tyler, Bill Shirley, Pat Moran, Jack O'Connor, Rory Calhoun and Lita Baron.
- Was a showgirl at New York City's famous Copacabana Club when she was 17.
- When she was teenager, she was crowned "Miss American Legion" and "Miss Miami Beach.".
- Daughter of a vaudevillian.
- In May 1960, along with her husband Jack Kelly, she launched Majak Productions.
- In January 2003, she attended the Hollywood Collectors & Celebrities Show in North Hollywood.
- Post-Hollywood she worked as a real estate broker.
- Former sister-in-law of Nancy Kelly.
- Great aunt to 12 nieces/nephews including Sarah Pasqueralle.
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