For most of her career, she performed across theaters in Europe, notably in Vienna and Berlin, and at one time was compared to stage actress Marie Dressler.

Upon the invasion of Austria shortly before the onset of World War II, she emigrated with her family to America as a Jewish refugee to escape Nazi persecution.

[3] She was a prominent actress in Jewish theaters in Leopoldstadt, where she gained recognition for playing strong widows in comedic productions.

[4] Like many Jewish women in Vienna, Werbezirk had immigrated from Eastern Europe with the dream of becoming a stage actress, and she received praise from critics for her humor and acting ability.

Her husband was the nephew of Friedrich Gustav Piffl, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Vienna.

Her son Henry was high on the Gestapo's "black list" for his anti-Nazi activities, as well as being a Jew who fought for the Czech army.

[13] From London, they boarded the SS Île de France as refugees bound for America in late 1938,[8] where she hoped they would be safe from Nazi persecution.

In an interview in 1946, she claimed to receive up to 20 prank calls a day about her name, some with false news about her son, such as that he had been involved in an accident.