Ann Blyth, a Hollywood actress known for her Oscar-nominated role in "Mildred Pierce" and her performances in MGM musicals, died Wednesday at her home in Rancho Santa Fe, California. She was 98. Her death was attributed to natural causes, according to her daughter, Eileen McNulty.

Blyth received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress at age 17 for her portrayal of the ambitious and treacherous Veda Pierce, the daughter of Joan Crawford's character in the 1945 film noir "Mildred Pierce." Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film marked a departure from the lighter roles Blyth had previously taken.

Born in Mount Kisco, New York, in 1928, Blyth grew up in New York City. She began acting and singing at a young age, with her first significant break coming at 13 when she was cast in Lillian Hellman's anti-Nazi play "Watch on the Rhine." The play's success led to a contract with Universal Studios. Initially, she appeared in low-budget musicals before being loaned out to Warner Bros. for "Mildred Pierce."

Following her acclaimed performance in "Mildred Pierce," Blyth appeared in dramas such as "Another Part of the Forest," a prequel to Hellman's "The Little Foxes." In the early 1950s, Blyth transitioned to musicals, starring opposite Mario Lanza in "The Great Caruso" and later with Howard Keel in "Rose Marie" and "Kismet."

Her career faced a significant challenge in 1946 when a toboggan accident resulted in a broken back. Blyth spent months in a body cast and then a wheelchair, relying on her faith during her recovery. Upon returning to acting, she appeared in films like "Swell Guy," "Brute Force," and "Killer McCoy."

Blyth chose to step away from film acting by the end of the 1950s to focus on raising her five children with her husband, Dr. James McNulty, whom she married in 1953. They remained married until his death in 2007. Despite leaving films, she continued to perform in television musicals and dramas, as well as touring in concert and stage productions, including "Show Boat" and "The Sound of Music."

Her final film role was in "The Helen Morgan Story" in 1957. Blyth's mother had encouraged her early acting ambitions, and despite her mother's death from cancer before Blyth's breakthrough role, she continued to pursue her career.

Blyth was one of the last surviving actors from the classic Hollywood studio system. Her filmography included collaborations with actors such as Bing Crosby, Cornel Wilde, Gregory Peck, and Robert Mitchum.