Richards won several Young Artist Awards for her acting as a child, but as an adult has focused primarily on her art career.

[5] She has been featured in other films such as Angus, where she played a high school cheerleader; she also appeared on television episodes of The Golden Girls, Empty Nest and Boy Meets World.

[5] In addition to acting in movies, Richards appeared in the 1997 music video "Brick" by Ben Folds Five, portraying a high school student having an abortion.

Fifteen years later, Richards returned briefly to the world of music in September 2008 and released a cover version of David Foster's "The Prayer" in a duet with Chris M. Allport, whom she has known since a young age.

[9] From an early age, Richards has been a keen artist, partaking in painting, sketching, and sculpting, alongside her acting career.

As an adult her artwork has evolved, featuring scenes from nature like seascapes and landscapes, managing to encompass both realism and impressionism in her work.