She began her acting career with a regular role in the medical drama series A Country Practice as Stephanie "Steve" Brennan, appearing in 117 episodes from 1990 to 1991.
Heathcote graduated from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in late 1994.
This was followed by a role in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) series Raw FM (1997), in which she played sexy lesbian dancer Sam.
[2][1] Along with her husband she established an annual fundraising event that raises $500,000 a year for the neonatal unit at the Royal Children's Hospital.
The staff there saved the life of their first child, Madeleine, who is believed to have suffered respiratory problems.