She is known for her roles as Amy Pearce in the sitcom Duty Free (1984–1986); Barbara Liversidge in the sitcom Barbara (1999–2003); Peggy Armstrong in the drama series Heartbeat (2005–2009), Anne Foster in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2011–2012), and Vi Highway in BBC One soap opera EastEnders (2021–2023).
She played Josephine in 'A Taste of Honey', in one of the earliest productions at the newly opened Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, in 1972.
She also appeared in other Monty Python spin-offs such as The Life of Brian and Ripping Yarns, and in a dual role as both Chastity and Mrs. Iris Mountbatten in the Beatles parody All You Need Is Cash.
However, she turned down a role in The Meaning of Life as she thought that being covered in intestines as a man exploded in a restaurant would be "tasteless".
In November 2012, she appeared with Don Warrington in the stage version of Driving Miss Daisy on a UK-wide tour.