Born Suzanna Smyth, the daughter of an auto engine manufacturer, Suzanna Leigh grew up in Belgrave, England, and in convent schools outside London. She began working in movies while still a pre-teen, appearing as an extra in 1958's tom thumb (film-debuting in the Dancing Shoes sequence), 1960's Oscar Wilde with Robert Morley and other English productions. A few years later, she was the star of the 13-episode French TV series Trois Etoile, which every week featured Leigh, her racing car and a different male lead (the "Three Stars" of the series' translated title). Planning to attend London's Opera Ball costumed as Madame Du Barry, Leigh had a sedan chair made, along with costumes for five footmen who carried it (and her) through the streets of the city. Movie producer Hal B. Wallis saw newspaper photos of Leigh's elaborate stunt and imported the 20-year-old blonde to Hollywood for Boeing Boeing. Following her brush with major studio stardom, she resumed her English acting career, showing up on movie screens most regularly in chillers. Her 1998 autobiography is entitled Paradise, Suzanna Style.
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