She was considered a frontrunner for the peasant role of Maria in
For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) due to her Spanish-speaking skills, but her screen test
indicated she was "too Americanized". The role was eventually played by
Ingrid Bergman, who earned an Oscar nomination.
Her second husband, Edwin J. Lukas (1902-1973), a noted lawyer, author,
criminologist and Jewish civil rights activist, was the cousin of actor
Paul Lukas. Betty was his third wife.
Year of birth was usually given as 1918 in reference books.