Oscar nominee and Mildred Pierce star Ann Blyth dies at 98

Oscar-nominated actress Ann Blyth, remembered by generations of film lovers for playing Joan Crawford's calculating daughter Veda in the 1945 classic Mildred Pierce, has died at the age of 98. As per reports, Blyth died of natural causes on Wednesday. The news was confirmed by KABC's George Pennacchio.

Blyth earned her only Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Mildred Pierce. She starred opposite Joan Crawford, who is said to have personally backed the teenage actor's casting by



appearing with her during the screen test.

Looking back on the role years later, Blyth told The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg in 2013, "I knew that other people wanted the part as well but I was the lucky one because Joan Crawford did the test with me, and it made a world of difference. People just didn't do that, not people of her stature."

The faith Crawford placed in her paid off. While Crawford went on to win the Oscar for Best Actress, Blyth received the only Academy Award nomination of her career.