After leaving the theatre school she went immediately into the West End, appearing in
The Innocents before performing in several productions for the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company. Although she continued to work in the West End and for theatres throughout Britain she was particularly associated with the group of directors, including her husband,
Caspar Wrede, who eventually formed the
Royal Exchange Company in Manchester. She worked for
Michael Elliott in the 59 Theatre Company and then for
Braham Murray in the Century Theatre in Manchester. These two companies led directly to the formation of the 69 Theatre Company and then to the Royal Exchange. Though primarily known as a theatre actress she also directed a number of theatre productions and appeared in many television plays and films. She appeared as a storyteller on the BBC children's programme
Jackanory, and narrated in
twenty episodes between 1966 and 1967. Her film career included roles in
Mix Me a Person (1962),
Assault (1971),
What Changed Charley Farthing? (1975),
Diagnosis: Murder (1975),
The Rainbow (1988),
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (1989),
The Fool (1990),
Harnessing Peacocks (1993), and
Hollow Reed (1996). Her theatre roles included • Ophelia,
Hamlet for the
Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford –upon-Avon (1956) • Mariana,
Measure for Measure for the
Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford –upon-Avon (1956) • Julie, ''
Danton's Death'' by George Buchner Directed by
Casper Wrede for the 59 Theatre Company at The
Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith) (1959) • Agnes,
Brand by
Henrik Ibsen. Directed by
Michael Elliott for the 59 Theatre Company at The
Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith) (1959) • Adela Quested,
A Passage to India at the
Oxford Playhouse (1960) • Rita,
Little Eyolf by
Henrik Ibsen. Directed by
Casper Wrede for the 59 Theatre Company (1960) • Kate Keller,
The Miracle Worker by
William Gibson at the
Old Vic (1962) • Solveig,
Peer Gynt by
Henrik Ibsen. Directed by
Michael Elliott at the
Old Vic (1962) • Isabella,
Measure for Measure. Directed by
Michael Elliott at the
Old Vic (1963) • Mary Tyrone, ''
Long Day's Journey into Night'' by
Eugene O'Neill. Directed by
Braham Murray at the Century Theatre, Manchester (1965) • Mary Louise,
The Ortolan by
Michael Meyer. Directed by
Braham Murray at the Century Theatre, Manchester (1965) • Portia,
The Merchant of Venice. Directed by
Braham Murray at the Century Theatre, Manchester (1967) • Amanda,
Private Lives by
Noël Coward. Directed by
Braham Murray at the Century Theatre, Manchester (1967) • Widow Quinn,
The Playboy of the Western World by
J. M. Synge. Directed by
Michael Elliott for the Century Theatre, Manchester (1968) • Gertrude,
Hamlet. Directed by
Casper Wrede for the 69 Theatre Company (1968) • Joan,
The Trial of Joan of Arc by
Gerard McLarnon. Directed by
Braham Murray for the Century Theatre, Manchester (1969) • Donna Lucia, Charley's Aunt at the Apollo Theatre 1971, London • Donna Lucia, ''
Charley's Aunt'' by
Brandon Thomas Directed by
Braham Murray at the 69 Theatre Company, Manchester (1972) •
Time and the Conways by
J B Priestley. Directed by
Braham Murray at the 69 Theatre Company, Manchester (1973) • Rosalind,
As You Like It at the
Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park (1973) • Catherine Petkoff,
Arms and the Man by
George Bernard Shaw at the
Northcott Theatre, Exeter (1974) • Vera,
Pal Joey by
Rodgers and Hart at the
Northcott Theatre, Exeter (1974) • Cleopatra,
Antony and Cleopatra at the
Northcott Theatre, Exeter (1976) • The Norwegian Lady,
The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold by
Ronald Harwood. World premiere directed by
Michael Elliott at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1977) • Paulina, ''
The Winter's Tale'' at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1978) • Countess Freudenberg,
The Deep Man by
Hugo von Hofmannsthal. British premiere directed by
Casper Wrede at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1979) • Lyuba,
The Cherry Orchard by
Anton Chekhov at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1980) • Mrs Clay,
Blood, Black and Gold by
Gerard McLarnon. World premiere directed by
Braham Murray at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1980) • Adelaide Dupont,
Have You Anything to Declare by
Maurice Hennequin. British premiere directed by
Braham Murray at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1980) • Akhmatova,
Hope Against Hope adapted and directed by
Casper Wrede at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1983) • Mary Cavan Tyrone, ''
Long Day's Journey into Night'' by
Eugene O'Neill at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1985) • Judith Bliss,
Hay Fever by
Noël Coward at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1985) • The Dowager Countess of Drumdurris,
The Cabinet Minister by
Arthur Wing Pinero at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1988) • Jeannie,
Your Home in the West by Rod Wooden. World premiere directed by
Braham Murray at the
Royal Exchange, Manchester (1991) ==Personal life==