She grew up in Bolinas, California, and attended Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley.
Coleman was a contract regular on soap opera The Young and the Restless as the blind heroine Hope Adams (1993–97, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012).
Coleman's prime time roles include appearances on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Human Target,[1][2] The Steven Banks Show, Jake and the Fatman, Silk Stalkings, Doors, Necronomicon, Dark Justice, The Flash and The X-Files.
She also appeared in two music videos with Huey Lewis and the News: "I Want a New Drug" and "Heart and Soul".
In 2012, Coleman joined the cast of River Ridge in the role of Sharon Reeves; she also served as executive producer on the series.