How Was Janet Leigh Discovered

Janet Leigh’s discovery and entry into the world of Hollywood can be attributed to a chance encounter that led to her being noticed by a prominent actress and subsequently signed to a film contract. In 1945, when Janet Leigh was just 18 years old, she was attending the University of the Pacific, where she was studying music and psychology. During her winter break, she decided to visit her parents in Los Angeles. While there, she decided to take a ski trip to Mount Hood, Oregon. It was during this ski trip that Janet Leigh’s life took a fortuitous turn. Norma Shearer, a well-known actress of the time, happened to be staying at the same ski resort. Shearer saw a photograph of Leigh and was struck by her beauty and potential as an actress. Impressed by the young girl’s appearance, Norma Shearer recommended her to talent agent Lew Wasserman, who worked at the prominent MCA talent agency. Wasserman agreed to meet with Janet Leigh and was similarly impressed with her charm and talen