She is primarily known as a character actress who has amassed several live action and voice-over credits across film and television.

In film, Sterling played Frau Farbissina in the Austin Powers series (1997–2002) and appeared in Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), All About Nina (2018), and Bobcat Moretti (2023).

Despite having starred in numerous films in the 1980s and 1990s, it was her character Frau Farbissina, the diminutive and domineering Germanic cohort of Dr.

Evil (Mike Myers) in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, that brought Sterling high praise for her work in films.

Sterling played Christian Slater's secretary Arlene Scott in the show My Own Worst Enemy.

She also played Judge Foodie on the Disney show That's So Raven and a volleyball coach on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

Between 2002 and 2004, Sterling made guest appearances on the Donny Osmond version of the game show Pyramid.

Her many other voice-over credits include guest roles on The Wild Thornberrys, Invader Zim, Ice Age: The Meltdown, American Dragon: Jake Long, Higglytown Heroes, Robot Chicken, Mars Needs Moms, The Looney Tunes Show, Justice League Unlimited, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil and Scooby-Doo!

[citation needed] In 2010, she had a recurring role as bitter neighbour Mitzi Kinsky in Desperate Housewives.