Upon leaving drama college, her first professional stage role was playing opposite Andrew Keir in The Bigot.
She appeared as Granny Morrison in Josie Rourke's revival of Ena Lamont Stewart's Men Should Weep at the Royal National Theatre, London.
Her film credits include: 16 Years of Alcohol, Solstice, The Crews, and Running in Traffic (nominated for Michael Powell and BAFTA awards, screened at the Edinburgh International Festival and winner of the Apollo Prize).
She has also written non-fiction including: On Being an Actor (Chapman), China Diary (Herald) and On having Irish Roots (Argyle Press).
Her works as a playwright include: Waiting on One (winner of Thames Television award), published by Fairplay Press, 2007; The White Bird Passes (adapted from the novel by Jessie Kesson).