Her first lead role was in Disco Lady, released in 1978, due to her physical resemblance to the at-the-time popular mainstream actress Farrah Fawcett.

(She was, indeed, promoted as "the Farrah Fawcett look-alike," which was also a marketing point of Little Orphan Dusty, released at the same approximate time.)

However, Petty had obviously larger breasts than did the real Fawcett—a physical aspect the "look-alike" promotion glossed over.

Petty starred in the film which debuted Holmes's future wife, Laurie Rose, who was then using the stage name Misty Dawn; this was The Greatest Little Cathouse in Las Vegas, released in 1982.

"[4] The Internet Adult Film Database notes that Petty brought her adult-film career to a close in 1991.