Born in London to socially prominent American parents, Taylor moved with her family to Los Angeles in 1939. She made her acting debut with a minor role in the Universal Pictures film "There's One Born Every Minute" (1942), but the studio ended her contract after a year. She was then signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and became a popular teen star after appearing in "National Velvet" (1944). She transitioned to mature roles in the 1950s, when she starred in the comedy "Father of the Bride" (1950) and received critical acclaim for her performance in the drama "A Place in the Sun" (1951).