Gretta Gould was born Cora Gretta Gould to John Gould and Charlotte Diana Scott Gould in Southeastshire, Stratford, Ontario, Canada in Perth County. She grew up in the community of Harmony, south of Stratford. Gretta began her working life as a school teacher, but an interest in drama led her to attend The Margaret Eaton School in Toronto Ontario. In the early years of the twentieth century, she began a stage career. By the early 1920s, Gretta owned and operated The All-Canadian Concert Bureau. She married Charles Welsh, a Stratford jeweler, in 1925. A few years later, Charles sold his jewelry business so they could move to Los Angeles to be closer to the film industry. In addition to the films that Gretta appeared in, she also acted in radio plays on the NBC Blue Network and wrote a few plays herself. Charles died on May 19, 1943. His body was returned to Stratford for burial at Avondale Cemetery. Gretta continued to live in Los Angeles until her death on April 26, 1966.