AllMovie

Vivacious, volatile Mexico-born singer/actress Dona Drake first gained fame as a band singer; using the name Rita Rio. She was featured in several musical short subjects, and offered a delightful rendition of "The Gypsy from Poughkeepsie" in the 1941 Columbia two-reeler Fresh as a Freshman. Signed by Paramount in 1941, she changed her professional name to Dona Drake. Her most famous role during her Paramount stay was as Bob Hope's vis-a-vis in The Road to Morocco (1942). During her waning days in films, Dona Drake was a Columbia contractee, playing secondary roles in such films as Valentino (1952) and Kansas City Confidential (1954).