She started acting on the television series Family in the two-part episode titled Jury Duty. In 1977, her biggest role came on General Hospital with Laura Spencer as she was a recast. This brought her instant prominence in the late 1970s. Francis landed a starring role in Bare Essence, her own series after leaving General Hospital to attempt her hand at prime-time television.
Her role in Bare Essence was however not successful. In 1983, she came back to General Hospital for a limited run. Additionally, Francis received an offer as a lead role for the movie Splash. However, she rebuffed it considering she thought it was fatuous.
Furthermore, Francis guest-starred as Jessica Fletcher’s niece Victoria on Murder, She Wrote in 1984, 1987, and 1990. Moreover, she starred as Brett Main Hazard in the miniseries North and South in 1985. In betwixt 1986 and 1984, Francis reprised her role of Brett Main Hazard in the miniseries Heaven and Hell: North and South Book III and North and South: Book II respectively.
In addition, she starred as Kris Buckner in Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss. This is a television film gleaned from the CBS television series of the same name. Francis imparted the voice of Betty Ross on the Incredible Hulk in 1996. The animated series ran on UPN. She has appeared on many other daytime soaps through the years. Francis starred as Diana Colville on Days of Our Lives. In November 1991, she reprised her role on Loving as Ceara. She appeared in Thunderbirds and Teacher’s Pet in 2004.
