Helm was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.G. Helm of Bakersfield, California. Her father was "a widely known oil operator" in Bakersfield. She participated in drama as a student at the University of Oregon and acted in productions at The Portland Civic Theatre. She also acted in the Bakersfield Community Theatre. Helm came to Hollywood in 1936 at the age of 22.
Personal life and death
Helm married attorney Jack Hardy February 15, 1941. Before that, she was married to assistant district attorney Norman Main. She and Main divorced in 1940. She died on September 27, 2003, and was buried on October 15, 2003, in The Holy Cross Cemetery Culver City Los Angeles County, California, Section Y, Tier 12, Grave 54.