[5] Then in 1956, Gunawardena entered to stage drama with the main role as the first queen in play Maname by Ediriweera Sarachchandra.
[1] Her maiden cinematic experience came through 1963 blockbuster movie Gamperaliya directed by award winning filmmaker Lester James Peries.
[8] Later she appeared in several critics acclaimed films such as Mado Doova, Baddegama, Nidhanaya, Gehenu Lamai, Nomiyena Minisun, Tharanaya and Loku Duwa.
Then she acted in the teledrama Beddegedara directed by Sudath Rohana and later won an OCIC award for her role as a mother.
She later joined English dramas and starred in the Belgian play Caligula produced by the Professor Rudy Corrense.