Her career began early in the silent film era, in 1911, and continued for forty years.

[2] Before she began working in films, Ridgely performed in the chorus at the Hippodrome Theater in New York City.

[3] Ridgely starred with Ruth Roland in a girl detective series in the 1920s and co-starred in a number of films with Wallace Reid and Lew Cody.

She was selected queen of the Auburn exhibit at the downtown automobile show in Los Angeles in October 1915.

[citation needed] In one of her Lasky features she stopped a runaway four-in-hand, risking her life, while on top of a stagecoach.

According to the magazine Kalem Kalendar (January, 1915), during a trip over the Arizona borderline, Ridgely was captured by Mexican rebels.