Trivia

In her later years Drake became very involved in animal rights causes.

Dark-haired American-born actress who went to finishing school in Arundel, England. After dancing in London nightclubs, she spent her apprenticeship on stage (e.g., "The Little Earthquake" in 1933, as a cockney maid) and in minor British films. She made her Hollywood debut in Bolero (1934) and was thereafter typecast as damsels in distress, opposite horror stars Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Peter Lorre. Paramount changed her name to Frances Drake because her birth name, Frances Dean, was too similar to that of one of their stars, Frances Dee.

Married into the English aristocracy.

Drake asked for her release from her three-year Paramount contract in 1936, six weeks early. Studio boss William LeBaron granted her request and even continued to pay her for that time. Unfortunately, she was very unhappy at her new studio Fox, and her agent Charles K. Feldman, arranged to have her contract bought by Columbia.

Started out as a nightclub dancer in London.

Drake was neighbors with director Fritz Lang in Beverly Hills and was very upset when he passed away in 1976.

Moved to England to be with a sick aunt when she was fifteen and stayed.

Drake retired from films at the urging of her husband.

Became a member of the Screen Actors Guild in late 1935.