Van Pallandt appeared in several Robert Altman films during the 1970s, including The Long Goodbye (1973), A Wedding (1978), and Quintet (1979).

In 1969, van Pallandt sang John Barry and Hal David's song "Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?"

They formed a singing duo, Nina & Frederik, and achieved popularity, including top-40 hits in the United Kingdom, with their calypso-style songs.

[5][6] She helped federal investigators prove that Irving had not secretly met Howard Hughes in South America.

[7] In the 2006 film The Hoax, about Irving's fake autobiography of Howard Hughes, van Pallandt is portrayed by Julie Delpy.