Career
Povah made her Broadway theatre debut in Mr. Pim Passes By in 1921 and acted in minor roles in several productions over the next two decades. (The film was directed by George Cukor).
The film was a success, but Povah continued to work steadily in theatre, and appeared in the film Let"s Face lieutenant (1943) with Bob Hope and Betty Hutton.
Dear Ruth, in which Povah starred with John Dall and Virginia Gilmore played on Broadway from 1944 until 1946, and provided her with a substantial role and her biggest success during the 1940s. She made two films in 1952, The Marrying Kind with Judy Holliday and Aldo Ray, and Pat and Mike with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, both directed by George Cukor.
Her final Broadway role was in Anniversary Waltz with MacDonald Carey and Kitty Carlisle in 1954 and 1955. The film version, retitled Happy Anniversary (1959) and costarring David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor, was her final film.
She died from a heart attack in Portuguese Washington, New York, aged 82.