Shaw was born Jeanette Ann Lavina Mary Elizabeth Elphick[1][2] in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

[3] Bob Hope spotted her while touring Australia and urged her to try her luck in Hollywood,[6] where in 1955 she signed a contract with Columbia Pictures.

[7] She played opposite Tyrone Power in The Eddy Duchin Story (1956), her United States film debut.

[2] Her subsequent films included The Crimson Kimono and Edge of Eternity (both 1959), Because They're Young and I Aim at the Stars (both 1960), Alvarez Kelly (1966),[4] and Westworld (1973).

(two episodes: both 1968), Ironside (1969),[citation needed] Barnaby Jones (1973), General Hospital (1974),[4] McCloud (1976), and Charlie's Angels (1978).