She moved to the UK at the age of 15 with the intention of going to finishing school and instead studied acting at Edinburgh College of Speech and Drama (now Queen Margaret University) in Scotland.
[3][4] Drynan started out in guest roles in numerous Australian television series including Hunter, Skippy, Riptide, The Rovers, Division 4, The Link Men, Delta, Matlock Police, Spyforce, Boney, Homicide and Ryan.
She then starred in high school-based soap opera Class of ‘74 as English teacher Mary Dunstan, and 1976 political-themed film Don’s Party (based on the play of the same name by David Williamson) as Kath Henderson.
Further guest roles followed in Bluey, The Young Doctors and Chopper Squad, before she secured the part of solicitor, Angela Jeffries in cult classic television drama Prisoner in 1979, endearing her to international viewers.
before she landed her best-known role as the ill-fated Betty Heslop, mother of the title character in 1994 hit film Muriel's Wedding, alongside Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths and Bill Hunter.