From 1990 to 1993, she starred as the original Christine Daaé in the Australian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera, opposite Anthony Warlow and later Rob Guest.

Prior was born in Port Moresby in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, Australia,[1] where her father was working in the shipping industry.

[3] This was followed by "Cosette" and the Australian premiere production of Les Misérables opposite Normie Rowe, Philip Quast, Simon Burke, and Anthony Warlow in Melbourne.

[3] From 1990 to 1993, she starred as the original "Christine Daaé" in the Australian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera, opposite Warlow and later Rob Guest.

[3][4] Other appearances include "Miss Adelaide" in Guys and Dolls (2000); the title role in Annie Get Your Gun (2004), both in staged concert versions with The Production Company;[3][5] in 2003 in John Misto's play Harp on the Willow ("Mary O'Hara") at the Ensemble Theatre, Sydney;[3][6] as "Jane Smart" in The Witches of Eastwick (2002);[3][7] and as "Belinda Blair" in Noises Off (2003).

[15] She then joined the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Hay Fever from 23 September to 1 November 2017, starring as Judith Bliss.

[16] Following the closure of this production, it was announced that Prior will join the Melbourne cast of Dream Lover as the dual role of Polly Darin and Mary Douvan.

[19] Prior then co-starred in the dual role of Miss Andrews and the Bird Woman in the engagement of Mary Poppins which opened January 29 2023 at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre where it is scheduled to run til April 2.

[20] In the spring of 2025, she's set to portray Madame Thénardier in the Australia performances of the Arena Spectacular World Tour of Les Misérables.

Leading Lady, Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber (which reached received an ARIA nomination) and Somewhere – The Songs of Sondheim and Bernstein.

[25] In 2009 she featured in "A Short Film About Shoe Boxes" to promote Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child.

[26] Prior was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for "significant service to musical theatre as a singer and performer".

[37] Prior became a devout Christian in the late 1990s, she has worked for charity organisations, Samaritan's Purse (on their Operation Christmas Child) and Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight.