Myrna Loy was born Myrna Williams on August 2, 1905 in Radersburg, Montana, the daughter of a cattle baron who died when she was twelve. Her family moved to Los Angeles and she was educated at the Westlake School for Girls. She had some stage experience performing in shows at Grauman's Theatre. She was discovered by Mrs. Rudolph Valentino and danced in chorus lines before making her screen debut in Pretty Ladies[1925]. She was often chosen to play exotic femme fatales early in her career because her auburn hair photographed much darker and her features, especially her eyes, suggested her as Oriental. She worked steadily in silent films, including The Jazz Singer [1927].