Often described as beautiful, Junoesque, and icy - Alexis Smith was born Gladys Smith on 8 June 1921, in Pentiction, B.C., Canada. Her family moved to Los Angeles during her infancy, and sadly, much is not known about her younger days. Drawn to movies at a very early age, Gladys always dreamed of becoming an actress and is perceived to have been a natural flair for dance perhaps due to her tall frame.

At 10, she earned her first dance school scholarship and in 1934, by 13, she had made her professional dancing debut by performing in Carmen, a Hollywood Bowl production ballet. While still in High School, Gladys won a state-wide acting contest and enrolled in a difficult theatrical training program at the L.A. City College. In 1941, Warner Bros. signed her on, and soon she was touted as 'The Dynamite Girl'. She was only 20.

Often referred to as the young and striking newcomer, Gladys Smith is perhaps one of the most beautiful women who have ever graced the big screen. A woman every man desires....a typical innocent girl next-door...and the unattainable yet most yearned for types! Every time Gladys came on the screen, the temperatures would rise and men and women alike would watch in awe this truly stunning 5'9" performer do her magic. A ravishing redhead, Gladys turned heads where she went!

In 1944, at 23, Gladys met and married fellow actor Craig Stevens and the couple went on to star in many films together. They were married for 49 years, until her death something so unusual and unheard of in Hollywood marriages.

Glayds began her movie carrier as a supporting actor in The Lady with Red Hair (1940), and saw a busy 1941, with bit parts in "Affectionately Yours," "Singapore Woman," "She Couldn't Say No " and "Flight From Destiny." She also worked as a lead actor in "Dive Bomber", followed by "Gentleman Jim" (1942). She excelled in playing the 'other woman' roles while alternating with leading-lady parts. Her Warner Bros. credits include The Adventures of Mark Twain (as Twain's wife), Hollywood Canteen, The Doughgirls (all 1944), The Horn Blows at Midnight, Conflict, Rhapsody in Blue, San Antonio (all 1945), Of Human Bondage (both 1946), Stallion Road, The Two Mrs. Carrolls (both 1947), The Woman in White, The Decision of Christopher Blake, Whiplash (all 1948), South of St. Louis (1949), Any Number Can Play (also 1949, with MGM), and Montana (1950).

Despite having made many good films, Warner dropped her in 1949, and some people believed that her career in Hollywood was over. Still young, less than 30, she worked with other studios until 1959. Some of her other credits include Undercover Girl (1950), The Turning Point (1952), Split Second (1953), The Sleeping Tiger (1954), The Eternal Sea (1955), Beau James (1957), This Happy Feeling (1958), and The Young Philadelphians (1959).

By this time, her career as an actor was just about over, though she continued to remain busy. She made a brief comeback after a hiatus of 16 years in 70s and 80s appearing on TV and movies. She won a Tony for Best Actress in a musical in 1972 for her role in the 'Follies'. Her last movie was Martin Scorsese's "The Age of Innocence"(1993).

She died of brain cancer on 9 June 1993.