Sylvia Sidney, born Sophia Kosow on August 8, 1910, in the Bronx, New York, was an American stage, screen, and film actress whose career spanned an impressive 70 years. She began acting at the age of 15 to overcome shyness and quickly gained recognition for her performances in theater, which led to her first film role in 1926.

Sylvia Sidney rose to prominence in the 1930s with leading roles in films such as "City Streets" (1931), "Sabotage" (1936), and "You Only Live Once" (1937).

Despite facing challenges in her career, including being labeled "box-office poison" in the 1940s, she continued to work in both film and television. She received critical acclaim for her role as Fantine in the 1952 film adaptation of "Les Misérables" and later gained attention for her performance as Juno in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" (1988), for which she won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Sylvia Sidney was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams" (1973).

Sylvia Sidney passed away on July 1, 1999, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and contributions to the entertainment industry.