Born Emma Matzo in 1922 to Slovakian parents at Scranton, Pennsylvania, Lizabeth studied at Alvienne School of Drama (NY), and was discovered by Hal Wallis in 1945. Although she appeared in over twenty films between 1945 and 1957, before her career was abruptly halted because of rumors surrounding her lesbian private life, Lizabeth is best remembered for her steamy roles in noir films.

Lizabeth was never given the type of role that would catapult her to super-stardom. Many of her movies are easily forgotten (with several notable exceptions), but her characters are not. They linger in memory long after the context has faded. A sentimental little film called You Came Along (1945), introduced a pretty, pouty, 23 year old Lizabeth Scott to the movie-going public.

The movie was a moderate success, and Lizabeth shines with a combination of beauty, sensitivity, and vulnerability that would suit her well in films to come. She then appeared in a supporting role in the film noir classic The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946).

In 1947 Lizabeth was paired with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas in I Walk Alone, a noirish story of betrayal and vengeance. She was again paired with Lancaster in 1947's Desert Fury, a story of love, deception and corruption. 1947 also finds Scott opposite Humphrey Bogart in Dead Reckoning.

Lizabeth's next role was in a terrific little noir gem called The Pitfall (1948), with Raymond Burr. 1949's movie Easy Living is an intelligent, well-written film. By the end of 1949 Lizabeth appeared in nine films, but hadn't achieved the level of stardom and clout that was needed in the studio system to influence the direction of her own career.

From 1950 on she was never given an opportunity to reach much beyond her usual good girl done wrong or femme fatale roles she had become known for. She continued to make films for Paramount and Columbia. Perhaps the best of this period is The Racket (1951), but Scott's role is minor one, unworthy of her talents.

In 1955 Scott, who never married, sued Confidential over allegations she was lesbian, but lost. In 1957 her film career came to an end with her role in Loving You, Elvis Presley's second movie. Since 1957 she has been seldom seen except for a few rare television appearances.