How very dull of you unreconstructed types to respond to such an intriguing photo with nothing but sniping about her looks. I'm quite taken with her: she seems to have been a fascinating and determined character, with excellent earl-seducing skills.

Bad review of the play, quoted in a McCall's article:

"This reviewer must admit that he was strongly impressed with the countess in her efforts for entrance into the country, especially so when the opposition was on ground of moral turpitude, but had the opposition been on the ground of her claim as an actress, we would have to be with the immigration people."

It's a fantastic image of George Vivian. I wonder if he was directing?

"I keep smelling insecticide, or is it really cheap bootlegged champagne?"

It looks like she had a wandering eye, in more ways than one.

It was indeed a flop. The three-act play opened its Broadway run at the National Theatre (now Nederlander) on West 41st Street on March 22, 1926, and closed after only eight performances.

Here's a short clip of her that was probably featured in one of the old Hollywood gossip newsreels. It's easy to imagine this being read by a Jazz age "newsman":

Fashionably dressed Jazz Age actress and English countess Vera Cathcart poses for pictures after she is delayed from entering the United States on charges of "moral turpitude."

I've got it!

Drink a bathtub full of champagne to be in the mood for Lady Cathcart.

Details here.

and the 1926 version of "feathered hair" indicates she may have been a trendsetter. Can't imagine how many magnums of champagne it would take to fill a bathtub but I'm hoping a Shorpy commenter will give us the details on that scandalous story.

[That "feathered hair" is a feather. - Dave]