Actress Ann Richards, born Shirley Ann Richards in Sydney, Australia, to an American father and New Zealander mother, began her film career in the late '30s playing ingénues and leads in Australian films. Following the beginning of WWII, Richards moved to Hollywood where she played co-leads and leads in films for MGM and other studios. Richards was a talented actress, but she was choosy about her roles and finally retired from films in the early '50s. Later, she infrequently appeared on-stage. In 1971, she published a volume of her poetry, The Grieving Senses; she has also published a verse play, Helen of Troy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide