Notable for her starring roles on the comedy series Doll & Em and Some Girls, she is also recognized for her recurring roles on Star Stories, Campus, Spy and Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy. Her big screen credits include appearances in Bridget Jones's Diary and Black Mountain Poets.
At the start of her career, she appeared in a 1997 episode of The Bill and acted in the 1998 movie The Sea Change.
In 2015, she went into production for the feature film Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Born in London, England, she is the daughter of British actor and comedian John Wells. Her marriage to actor Mischa Richter produced two children, including Elsie Pearl Richter.
She and Patrick Stewart play the respective roles of Celia and Walter in the 2015 comedy series Blunt Talk.