Born in Palisades, N.J., she was part of a famous theatrical family with a lineage dating back to traveling minstrels in 18th century England. Her father was actor Richard Bennett, her mother, actress Adrienne Morrison, and her sisters, actress Constance Bennett and dancer, Barbara Bennett. Joan first acted onstage with her father at age 18 and by 19 had become a movie star courtesy of her roles in such movies as "Bulldog Drummond" (1929) and "Disraeli" (1929). She moved quickly from movie to movie throughout the 1930s, appearing with John Barrymore in his version of "Moby Dick" (1930) and playing Amy to Katharine Hepburn's Jo in "Little Women" (1933). Of the three Bennett sisters, Joan would achieve the greatest fame.