Virginia Welles (born Virginia Francine Welter; June 25, 1925 – September 19, 2002) was an American film actress. She is known for appearing in Shirley Temple films such as Kiss and Tell (1945) and A Kiss for Corliss (1949). Welles was found by a talent agent while visiting Hollywood for her sister's wedding, where she was encouraged to do a screen test. Despite the offer, she instead opted to enrol on a college course in dramatics, where she was trained by actress Maude Adams. Upon her return to Hollywood, she signed a contract with Paramount Studios after her screen-test was picked up by agent William Meiklejohn. She later took a break from the film industry to become a stage actress, before taking a hiatus from show business to raise a family. She returned several years later to star in Francis in the Haunted House opposite Mickey Rooney in 1956. Welles died in September 2002 and was survived by her children and grandchildren. Early life Welles was born Virginia Francine Welter in Wausau, Wisconsin to parents Frank and Phylis (née Wheldon) Welter on June 25, 1925. She was the youngest of two daughters, her older sister being Gwendolyn, around 2 years her senior. She studied dance and piano in Wausau public schools. Welles was privately educated at Stephens College, where she originally registered for a course in interior decoration. Prior to the term starting, she and her mother visited Hollywood for her sister's wedding. While there, they visited a boxing match to see movie stars and upon leaving, Welles was invited by an assistant director to attend an interview the following day with a casting director. Despite being offered a screen test, she opted instead to complete another year of college and was encouraged to return in a year by the studio. In 1943, she enrolled back at Stephens College, specializing to study drama under the tuition of renowned actress Maude Adams. Career Welles was a successful film actress with Paramount Studios, featuring in movies such as To Each His Own and Kiss and Tell, the latter of which was her film debut. After college, she had returned to Hollywood in June 1945 to be screen-tested by Warner Brothers, but did not sign a contract. Talent agent William Meiklejohn heard about her test and ran it for the executives of Paramount, who she signed a contract with on August 7, 1945.