Anne Helm, born in Toronto, showed a passion for acting early on—really from childhood. She got her start performing in summer camp productions, and when she was just 14, her family moved to New York City, which opened up new opportunities. Anne Helm explored dancing and even began modeling before fully committing to an acting career in Hollywood. By 1960, Anne Helm was landing roles left and right on television, appearing in popular shows like the Elaine Stritch-led comedy “My Sister Eileen,” the gritty crime series “Naked City,” and the Western favorite “Tales of Wells Fargo.”
But it was Anne Helm’s role in the 1962 Elvis Presley musical “Follow That Dream” that truly brought her into the spotlight—she played his on-screen cousin, and yes, there were plenty of kisses. Funny enough, life started to mirror art, and Anne Helm found herself in a real romantic relationship with the King of Rock himself. Though that chapter eventually ended, Anne Helm kept working steadily through the mid-to-late ‘60s and beyond, mostly on TV. Over the years, Anne Helm built up an impressive list of credits across major series of the time. You might’ve seen her on “Hawaii Five-O,” or caught her in episodes of the long-running Western “The Virginian.” Then, in 1971, Anne Helm landed one of her most notable recurring roles yet—as nurse Mary Briggs on the beloved soap opera “General Hospital.” Through it all, Anne Helm remained a consistent and compelling presence on screen.
When it comes to Anne Helm’s filmography, one standout from 1962 is definitely The Interns, which happens to be her highest rated movie. It’s interesting how the same year brought such contrasting results, because on the flip side, Anne Helm also appeared in The Magic Sword (1962), a film that ended up being her lowest rated work. Yeah, 1962 was quite a year for Anne Helm—talk about highs and lows. While Anne Helm delivered a strong performance in The Interns, helping it gain positive reviews, Anne Helm’s role in The Magic Sword just didn’t resonate as well with critics or audiences. So overall, if you’re exploring Anne Helm’s career, those two films really show the range of her early experiences in Hollywood.