[2] Before acting, McBurney started a successful career as a model employed by June Dally-Watkins.

Her first leading role was in 1972 as Ella Belairs in ABC's adaption of The Cousin from Fiji, based on a novel by Norman Lindsay.

Subsequently, she became immensely popular playing the part of nurse Tania Livingston in The Young Doctors.

[2] McBurney was also famous for her voice-over work and also starring in commercials, in particular a very cheeky, controversial ad from the 1980s for Palmolive Gold, in which she features in a bed with actor Peter Mochrie.

McBurney leaves a cake of soap under his pillow, which led to the famous jingle and saying "Don't wait to be told".