She created the role of Effie Herrington at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre in Up In Saratoga, written by Terrence McNally and directed by Jack O'Brien.
At the same time, she began acting on television, playing Sierra Estaban Reyes Montgomery in the CBS daytime soap opera As the World Turns from 1985 to 1988 and in a short reprise in 1994.
After leaving daytime TV, she guest-starred in a number of television shows before making her big-screen debut in a starring role in the 1989 romantic comedy film How I Got into College opposite Anthony Edwards.
[5] In 1990, Carter played Rhonda LeBeck in the comedy monster film Tremors opposite Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward.
In 1992, she played the leading role in the action film Sweet Justice and in 1996 had a supporting part in Rob Reiner's drama Ghosts of Mississippi.