[1] Padbury came to prominence in 1966 when she joined the cast of the long-running ATV soap opera Crossroads after she came second in the television talent contest Search for a Star.

Afterwards, the guest celebrity, Stubby Kaye, praised her very highly and predicted that she would go far, somewhat to the embarrassment of the presenter since, at that point, no one contestant should have been singled out.

In Crossroads, she played the role of Stephanie "Stevie" Harris, foster daughter to the show's main character, Meg Mortimer (Noele Gordon).

She appeared in three series of the children's television adventure programme Freewheelers playing the part of Sue Craig.

[citation needed] However, following her retirement she returned to the convention scene and was a guest at Gallifrey One in 2009 where she spoke about how she first met then new Doctor actor, Matt Smith.