[1] [2] Barondess was born in New York City, but her family returned to Russia because of the luxury that life held for them there.
[3] The family went from Russia to England and traveled in steerage from there to the United States with their jewels sewn into their underwear.
[3] After Barondess left acting she became a dress designer, an interior decorator,[4] and "a broker of fine arts and antiques".
[5] Clients for her interior design work included "many prominent motion picture personalities", and she created a room for the 10th Annual National Home-Furnishings Show in 1959.
[6] On October 24, 1933, Barondess filed for divorce from producer Irving Jacobs after four years of marriage.