Betsy Drake

Betsy Drake (September 11, 1923 – October 27, 2015) was a talented American actress and author, born in France. She gained prominence as the third wife of legendary actor Cary Grant. After moving to New York City, she initially supported herself as a Conover model while seeking acting opportunities. Her big break came when playwright Horton Foote invited her to understudy in his play, "Only the Heart," allowing her to join the Actors' Equity Association and embark on her professional acting career.

Drake's potential was recognized by producer Hal Wallis, but she resisted the Hollywood system, famously escaping a contract by declaring herself insane. Returning to New York, she auditioned for Elia Kazan, who cast her in the lead role of the London company for "Deep Are the Roots" and welcomed her as one of the founding members of the Actors Studio in 1947.

Her romance with Cary Grant blossomed after he noticed her in London. They married on Christmas Day in 1949 in an intimate ceremony, opting for a private life steeped in transcendentalism and philanthropy, particularly focusing on the welfare of homeless children in Los Angeles. Together, they co-starred in the radio series "Mr. and Mrs. Blanding" and the film "Room for One More" (1952), alongside her notable supporting role in "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" (1957).

Eventually, Drake shifted her focus to writing, publishing the novel "Children, You Are Very Little" under the name Betsy Drake Grant in 1971. She later earned a Master of Education degree from Harvard and volunteered at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. Her final on-screen appearance was in the documentary "Cary Grant: A Class Apart" (2005), where she shared insights about her life with Grant and refuted claims about his sexuality.