She then gained recognition for her role as aspiring child psychologist Ginny in the Steve Miner-directed horror film Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981).
She had other movie roles in the mystery April Fool's Day (1986), the slapstick Walk Like a Man (1987), the thriller Play Nice (1992), and the anthology Tales of Poe (2014).
Outside of these leading roles, she had guest appearances in shows such as Family Ties (1982), The A-Team (1983), Quantum Leap (1990), Home Improvement (1994), American Gothic (1995), and Millennium (1997).
Steel made her theatrical debut in Manuel Summers' comedy film Fat Chance (1981), in which she portrayed the supporting role of Allison.
[7] Steel's next feature role was Kit in Fred Walton's hybrid black comedy mystery slasher film April Fool's Day (1986) which she described as a different shooting experience compared to Friday.
[11] Steel began her career with guest roles on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light alongside fellow Friday the 13th star Kevin Bacon, as Trudy Wilson from 1980–1981, and as Peggy Warner on All My Children in 1980.
In 1982, Steel had guest roles on the television series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) as Allison Freleng, Family Ties (1982) as Stephanie Brooks (Michael J.
Fox's character's first sexual encounter), CHiPs as Kelly Monahan, The A-Team (1983) as Kathy Ludlam, before being cast as Pam Elliott in the sci-fi series The Powers of Matthew Star alongside Peter Barton, who went on to appear in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter.
In 1994, Steel guest starred on Viper, Home Improvement and Diagnosis: Murder before being cast in the television films Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice and The Innocent.