An only child, she spent her formative years in Portland, Oregon where her father worked as a stock company manager and was a well-respected actor.

[citation needed] She said, "I spent some of my early childhood in Australia and New Zealand and was educated in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

In 1905, her family moved to Los Angeles, California, and her father accepted a position to manage the Balasco theater.

[citation needed] Bernard worked with stock theater companies in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and Detroit.

On television, she portrayed Margaret, an Irish cook and housekeeper, in Life With Father after originating the role on stage.