Her father worked in the United States during his youth and moved there again in 1942, working with the Johnson Electrical Company, while his wife and daughter stayed behind.
With Bye Bye Birdie 1963 and Viva Las Vegas 1964 opposite Elvis Presley, she became a Top 10 Box Office star, teen idol and even Golden Globe nominated actress.
Her next starring role, as the all-American teenager Kim from Sweet Apple, Ohio, in Bye Bye Birdie 1963 made her a major star.