Born on September 13, 1903, in Paris, France as Claudette Lily Chauchoin. Her banker father moved the family to the United States when she was three. As she grew up, Claudette wanted nothing more than to play to Broadway audiences. After Claudette's formal education ended, she enrolled in the Art Students' League where she paid for her dramatic training by working in a dress shop. She made her Broadway debut in 1923 in the stage production of The Wild Wescotts. It was during this event that she adopted the name Claudette Colbert.

When the Great Depression shut down most of the theaters, Claudette decided to make a go of it in films. Her first film was a movie called For the Love of Mike (1927). It was a box-office disaster. She wasn't real keen on the film industry but with no theaters worth anything she had no choice but to remain. She starred as Joyce Roamer in The Lady Lies (1929).

The production was a success and later that year had another hit entitled Hole in the Wall (1929) . In 1930, she played the starring role, opposite Fredric March, in Manslaughter, which was a remake from the silent version eight years earlier. One year later, Claudette was again paired in a film with March called Honor Among Lovers.

In 1932, Claudette played the evil Poppeia in Jesse Laskey's last great work, Sign of the Cross, and once again was with Fredric March. Later the same year, she was paired with Jimmy Durante in The Phantom President. By now Claudette's name symbolized good movies.

Claudette was charming and radiant in Cecil B. DeMille's spectacular Cleopatra (1934). It wasn't one of DeMille's finest by any means but it was a financial success and showcased Claudette as never before. But it was as Ellie Andrews, in the now famous It Happened One Night (1934), that ensured she would be forever immortalized. Paired with Clark Gable, the madcap comedy was a super hit all across the country. The film also helped Claudette be nominated for and win in the category of Best Actress.

The next year she was nominated again for Private Worlds. In 1944, Claudette starred as Anne Hilton in the production of Since You Went Away. Again, although she didn't win, Claudette won her third nomination for Best Actress. By the time the late 40s and early 50s rolled around she was not only seen on the screen but the infant medium of television where she was on a number of programs.

In 1955, she filmed Texas Lady and wasn't seen again until Parrish in 1961. It was her final silver screen performance. Although she appeared in a TV movie, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (1987), Claudette never again appeared before the cameras. She did, however, remain on the stage where she had returned in 1956, her first love. After a series of strokes, Claudette divided her time between New York and Barbados. On July 30, 1996, Claudette died in Speightstown, Barbados. She was 92.