She made her first film appearance at almost 50 years of age. She played a nun in her first 3 film appearances (The Sound of Music, The Trouble With Angels, and an episode of The Big Valley).
Not only had a major career on the Broadway Stage but was a top
attraction in the best Nightclubs across the country.
Adopted first name Portia because friends called her by that name,
after the main character in the radio soap opera "Portia Faces
Life".
Youngest of nine children.
Portia Nelson is the author of the book "There's A Hole In My Sidewalk:
The Romance of Self Discovery." Originally published in the 1970s, it
was reissued in 1994. The title work appears on a poster in Dr.
Maguire's office (Robin Williams) in the film Good Will Hunting (1997).