During the early times of the Depression when life was more famine than feast, child stars became the blue plate special of the day, served up by Hollywood to help nourish a nation besieged with troubles. Following 20th Century-Fox monumental success with Shirley Temple in the early 1930s, every studio was out searching for its own precocious little commodity who could pack 'em in the aisles despite the lean times. While Paramount whipped up "Little" Mitzi Green, MGM offered Jackie Cooper in the hopes of finding a similar box office jingle. Wildly talented Janie Withers fit the bill, too, and although she earned pint-sized prominence just like the others, it was also for Temple's Fox Studios. As such, Jane remained somewhat of a side course to Temple's main dish (what child star didn't?) throughout much her young "B" level reign. Nevertheless, she became a major bright star in her own right.
生于马萨诸塞州洛维尔。在20年代末期的影片和戏剧扮演儿童角色。此后因上学离开银幕一段时间。1938年成后年重返银幕，主要为二十世纪福斯影片公司拍片，在许多影片中任主角。此外，她还在舞台上演出，1954年至1955年因戏剧《坏种》获戏剧托尼奖。
