Born Eda van Heemstra in Brussels, Belgium she trained as a ballet dancer making her stage and film debuts in London in 1948. The lead in Gigi in 1951 was followed by the film Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck. Other roles included Sabrina (1954), The Nun's Story (1959), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), My Fair Lady (1964), Two for the Road (1967), Wait Until Dark (1967). She was also a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF