Constance Frances Marie Ockelman (Veronica Lake) was born in Brooklyn on November 14, 1922. Her father died when she was 10 years old.

After being expelled from a Catholic boarding school in Montreal, Veronica participated in beauty pageants in her teens. In 1938 she moved with her mother and step-father to Beverly Hills, and appeared as an extra in several films before her break-out role in I Wanted Wings (1940). Numerous starring roles followed, trading in part on Veronica’s legendary and much-imitated ‘peek-a-book’ hair-style. These films included Sullivan’s Travels (1941) and The Blue Dahlia (1946).

In the 1950’s, following bankruptcy and her third divorce, Veronica moved to New York City, subsequently appearing mostly in live theatre in the USA and England. Her memoir Veronica was first published in 1969.

Other than travelling theatrical engagements, Veronica spent most of her final years living in Miami. She died, aged 50, in 1973, leaving two adult daughters and son.