Lawley began acting in her teens, and was sailing to England to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) when she met her future husband—an engineer—and instead spent ten years in Calcutta, India where he was stationed during World War II.
Back in New Zealand, she took some small roles in theatre, television and radio, but her acting career was secondary to her family.
[1] She appeared in the 1976 television adaptation of The God Boy, and in an episode of the anthology series Winners and Losers entitled "Blues for Miss Laverty".
Her only lead role in a feature film was in 1990's Ruby and Rata, directed by Gaylene Preston.
[1] Lawley was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the performing arts, in the 1995 New Year Honours.