[4] When she failed to receive any roles because of her lack of experience, she joined the Laguna Beach Players theater, where she acted in a new play each month for two years.

From 1937 through 1939, Read appeared in nine films, most notably starring in The Spellbinder, opposite Lee Tracy.

Her most remembered role was that of Margo Lane, portrayed in three films from The Shadow series, starring opposite Kane Richmond.

In September 1936, Read eloped to Mexico with a young artist named William Paul III, but they divorced two months later.

[5] Read married talent agent Bill Josephy in Santa Barbara on December 27, 1947.