Born in Tularosa, NM; educated at the University of New Mexico. She began acting in college and in stock. Arriving in New York, she worked as a model while training at the Actors Studio under Kazan and Strasberg. An intense "Method" actress, she won praise and awards for her performances on Broadway and the London stage. In 1962, she provided the uncredited voice of the Narrator (mature Scout Finch) in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. She appeared in only five feature films, but her screen performances were remarkable and memorable. She was nominated for an Oscar® as best actress for SÉANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON (1964) but shortly after suffered a breakdown and temporarily retired from the screen. She taught drama at the College of Santa Fe, New Mexico. In the early 1980s she returned briefly to films, winning her second Academy Award nomination in 1982 for her supporting role as Frances Farmer's stong-willed mother, opposite Jessica Lange, in FRANCES. Her other film credits are THE GODDESS (1958, as Emily Ann Faulkner / Rita Shawn), THE THREE SISTERS (1966, as Masha) and THE RIGHT STUFF (1983, as Pancho Barnes). She made over 20 guest appearances on episodes of TV series between 1950 and 1970.  Nominated for Actress 1964: SÉANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON  Nominated for Supporting Actress 1982: FRANCES 2 nominations