Signed to a seven-year contract by Universal. She was set to star as Estella in Great Expectations (1934) before Jane Wyatt was cast. She seems to have appeared in the film in some other, uncredited capacity. She broke her contract and returned to London after four months to resume theater roles.
Second wife of Ronald Armstrong-Jones (1899-1966). Their engagement was announced on April 21, 1936, and they were married in June of that same year.
Her birth name is alternately given as Gwendoline Carol Akhurst Coombe and Gwendoline Carol Alice Coombe. Early in her career she was also known as Gwen Coombe.