[2] She is best known for playing headmistress Mrs Bassinger in the long-running BBC school drama, Grange Hill, from 2003–2006.
Mrs Bassinger was not seen during the 2007 series, her function in the programme taken over by Cathy Tyson as deputy head, Miss Gayle.
In addition to Grange Hill, Boatswain has appeared in Casualty, and as a police custody sergeant in the BBC daytime drama Doctors.
In October 2013, she appeared in Sarah Rutherford's Adult Supervision at Park Theatre (London).
Hollyoaks aired a Come Dine with Me special week to celebrate their twentieth anniversary, with Boatswain as one of the cast members hosting.