Angeli made her film debut with Vittorio De Sica in "Domani è troppo tardi" (1950) after being spotted by director Léonide Moguy and De Sica. MGM launched her in "Teresa" (1951), her first American film, which also saw the film debuts of Rod Steiger and John Ericson. Reviews for this performance compared her to Greta Garbo, and she won the New Star of the Year–Actress Golden Globe. Under contract to MGM throughout the 1950s, she appeared in a series of films, including "The Light Touch" with Stewart Granger. Plans for a film of "Romeo and Juliet" with her and Marlon Brando fell through when a British-Italian production was announced.