Mixon's first acting job came in 2001, playing
Calpurnia in the
Utah Shakespearean Festival's presentation of
Shakespeare's
Julius Caesar. Mixon moved to Los Angeles in 2003. In 2005, she starred in the premiere of the
interactive theater play
American Standard at the Los Angeles Edgefest. Mixon has performed at Upright Cabaret. Mixon made her motion picture debut in the 2005 thriller film
The Quiet starring
Elisha Cuthbert, playing the character Michelle Fell. The next year she appeared in the romantic comedy
Blind Dating playing a secondary role. Mixon had a bigger role in the 2008 comedy film
Four Christmases playing
Jon Favreau's younger wife. In 2009, she had roles in three films: crime drama
The Informers, political thriller
State of Play, and a
Razzie-winning comedy
All About Steve. Also from 2009 until 2013 she starred as April Buchanon in the HBO baseball comedy series
Eastbound & Down opposite
Danny McBride. In 2010, Mixon was cast as Victoria Flynn in the
CBS comedy series
Mike & Molly opposite
Melissa McCarthy and
Swoosie Kurtz.
Vanity Fair described her role as "the funniest part" of the sitcom. She had a role in the action film
Drive Angry (2011) which starred
Nicolas Cage; she voiced Tina Nelson in
Minions (2015) as well. In 2016, she appeared alongside
Jeff Bridges and
Chris Pine in the critically acclaimed crime film
Hell or High Water. In 2016, Mixon was cast in the first leading role of her career on the ABC comedy series
American Housewife created by
Sarah Dunn. Mixon received positive reviews from critics for her performance as Katie Otto. She was included in ''
People's
"One to Watch" list. The series was cancelled in 2021 after 103 episodes. In 2022, Mixon played Betsy Faria in the NBC miniseries The Thing About Pam detailing the involvement of Pam Hupp in the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria. Later that year, she was cast opposite Jessica Chastain in the Showtime musical drama miniseries George & Tammy''. ==Personal life==