Virginia Gilmore's father was a British army officer who retired to California. Educated at a convent in Hollywood, she made her stage debut at 15 with a San Francisco theater company and at 20 made her first movie for Samuel Goldwyn. Although her career started out well, she was soon relegated to leading and supporting parts in B pictures, and as offers dwindled, she retired from films in 1952. She still kept her hand in show business as a stage and television actress, and eventually became a drama coach.
