Noel Francis caught the eye of Broadway producer Florenz Ziegfeld after she came to New York City from her native Texas. Noel soon appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1925. Then with help from Ziegfeld she started acting in motion pictures. She signed with Fox Films. In the early 1930s she became typecast playing gun moll/floozie parts. Although she seldom received star billing her role as Lara in "I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang" is a most memorable role for her. At the same time she was making films Noel appeared in such Broadway hits as "Rio Rita" (1927) and "Show Girl" (1929).