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Janet Leigh was born Jeanette Helen Morrison on the 6th of July 1927 in Merced, California. She was discovered by the wife of Irving Thalberg and actress, Norma Shearer. Shearer showed Lew Wasserman, the famed talent agent, a picture of Janet. Wasserman was impressed and later got her a movie deal with MGM. At that time, Janet was enrolled at the University of the Pacific, but left it as soon as Wasserman offered her a career in the movies.

During the 50s, Janet Leigh appeared in many films, mostly as leading beautiful blonde role, such as in the film My Sister Eileen. In this film she played opposite Betty Garret, Dick York and Jack Lemmon. Her most famous role was in the film Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock. She played the role of Marion Crane and immortalized the shower scene. For her role in this Alfred Hitchcock move, she was nominated in the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards.

Janet Leigh married Tony Curtis in 1945 and had two children with him, Jamie Lee and Kelly. In 1962 Tony Curtis left her for his co-star in his film Taras Bulba, Christine Kaufman. When they got divorced, she married Robert Brandt, a stockbroker, in Las Vegas. She remained with him until her death in 2004.

Though she was typecast for horror films after Psycho, Janet Leigh appeared in many films during her career. Films to her credit include, Act of Violence in 1948, Hills of Home in 1948, Holiday Affair in 1949, Little Women in 1949, That Forsyte Woman in 1950, Angels in the Outfield in 1951, Scaramouche in 1952, Just This Once in 1952, Confidentially Connie in 1953, The Naked Spur in 1953, Houdini in 1953, Walking My Baby Back Home in 1953, Prince Valiant in 1954, The Black Shield of Falworth in 1954, Living It Up in 1954, Rogue Cop in 1954, Pete Kelly's Blues in 1955, My Sister Eileen in 1955, Jet Pilot in 1957, Touch of Evil in 1958.

In the 1960s, Janet Leigh continued to produce successful films, such as The Vikings in 1958, Psycho in 1960, Who Was That Lady? in 1960, The Manchurian Candidate in 1962, Bye Bye Birdie in 1963, Three on a Couch in 1966, Harper in 1966, Grand Slam in 1967, Hello Down There in 1969, Night of the Lepus in 1972, One Is a Lonely Number in 1972, The Fog in 1980, Psycho II in 1983, Terror in the Aisles in 1984, Psycho III in 1986, and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later in 1998.