[1] Wilson was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, moving to Los Angeles, California, after her high school graduation.

[2] Ironically, she had no interest in acting and had moved to Los Angeles due to an urge to travel.

[citation needed] The same year, she was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars, along with future Hollywood legend Ginger Rogers and Gloria Stuart.

[5] She starred opposite some of Hollywood's biggest names, including Harold Lloyd, Richard Dix, Tom Keene, Preston Foster and Will Rogers.

She was asked to test for the part of Melanie Hamilton in the epic movie Gone with the Wind, which she did,[citation needed] but she did not win the role, its being awarded to Olivia de Havilland.