Over her long career she has worked in comedy as well as drama in theatre, film, TV and radio.

[10] Harcourt returned to New Zealand from London and took up a teaching position at Woodfood House in Havelock North.

After that she moved to Wellington initially teaching at Marsden College, before working at the department store Kirkaldie and Stains organising and MC'ing weekly fashion shows for seven years.

Stage work includes comedy with Hens' Teeth, and acting in a version of Hedda Gabler.

[14][1] A review stated that the play shared "the experiences of a mother, daughter and extended family with an ingenious simplicity that belies the depth of insight.

"[12] In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, Harcourt was appointed as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the theatre.