She graduated from The Forsyth Institute where she studied dentistry and worked for five years as a dental assistant where some of her patients included John F. Kennedy and Robert F.
During World War II she became an entertainer with the United Service Organizations where she toured American military bases in the US and Europe as part of a production of Junior Miss.
Offered film work in Italy, Harriet met her director Roberto Rossellini and Paisan's dialogue coach Federico Fellini.
Harriet's last film in Italy was John Huston's Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967); she accompanied Gina Lollobrigida to America to coach her on The Private Navy of Sgt.
She stayed in Hollywood with her friend director Andrew Marton and his wife where she guest starred in several American television series and made several films.