Born Winifred June Vlasek in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she originally trained as a dancer. She made her film debut in 1932 and gradually began to secure second lead roles in mostly "B" pictures. Noted for her fragile and demure appearance, she was usually cast as the little sister or the heroine's best friend in light comedies and adventure films. She graduated to leading roles, but her reputation as a wholesome leading lady was tarnished when she married Johnny Roselli, a reputed mobster, in 1939. Her studio released her from her contract the same year, and although she divorced her husband a year later, she found it difficult to secure film work.

She retired in 1947 after struggling to reestablish her film career for several years.

She is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.