[1] McGuire studied at National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), graduating with a Bachelor of Dramatic Acting in 1964.
[2] McGuire's screen roles include her AACTA Award-winning role in Olive (1988) where she played the titular Olive Bodill, an actress battling cancer,[3] Runaway Island (1982) as innkeeper Molly McKenzie and miniseries Against the Wind (1978) as Polly (also an innkeeper), the latter for which she won both a Sammy Award and a Logie Award.
[4] She later appeared as Diana Fraser, mother of doctors Lachlan and James Fraser on Home and Away, on and off from 1997–1999, reprising the role for 2 further episodes in 2005.
She made guest appearances throughout her career on tv series' such as Division 4, Riptide, Catwalk, Homicide, Boney, Certain Women, Skyways, Prisoner, Cop Shop, A Country Practice, Neighbours, Rafferty's Rules and G.P.
McGuire's long stage career included roles in Absurd Person Singular (a gender swapped The Odd Couple) at Sydney's Northside Theatre[5][6] She also starred in Don's Party which toured Australia in 1973, Bedroom Farce (1979) and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1983–1984).