catherine ruth baldwin was born on 17 february 1905 in england. in the 1920s in london she was known for her use of heroin, cocaine and alcohol. it has been said that she turned the kitchen of the house where she lived with joe carstairs into a bar. carstairs' friends later said, "she was wild. she was such fun. ruth, she was really "wild"." she said to carstairs, "the world is one's oyster if taken at will." her circle of friends included painter edward burra and society portrait photographers barbara ker-seymer and olivia wyndham, the last possibly her lover as well.