A fictionalized version of her life was documented in the 1977 film The Turning Point, in which she was portrayed by Shirley MacLaine, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance.
[2][3] She was born in New York City, United States, to Jewish-Russian immigrant parents Sonia and Alexander "Sasha" Mirrow (1893–1977).
He later trained at the Stone-Camryn School of Ballet in Chicago before moving to New York City to join ABT, where he met Isabel.
[5][6] Isabel's husband, Kelly Brown, also made appearances as a featured dancer in several Hollywood musical films, including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Daddy Long Legs, The Girl Most Likely, and Oklahoma!.
Her daughter Leslie Browne had added an "e" to her name for her stage name, believing it sounded more feminine after being mistaken as male in a playbill.
[13] Her other daughter, Elizabeth (Brown) Healy (born 1959), was portrayed in the film by Lisa Lucas with her name changed to "Janina."