Natural inside London, Burke's first role was in the controversial film Scrubbers, directed by Swedish actress Mai Zetterling. the motion-picture show was placed inside a immature wrongdoer institute for girls & was seen as a female version of the ill-famed Scum.

Burke number 1 became familiar to television audiences as a player of bit part within sketches by better-known performing artist like Harry Enfield, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Along by using French & Saunders, she featured in the Comic Relief charity single as the member of a Bananarama lookalike band. She quickly became successful inside her have perfect & although principally associated by using comedy, she has played several good roles including that of Queen Mary I of England in Elizabeth.

Within 1997 Burke won a Better Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in the gritty drama Nil by Mouth.

Within 2003, she was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.

Films
Anita and Me (2002) Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002) The Martins (2001) Kevin and Perry Go Large (2000) Love, Honour and Obey (2000) Elizabeth (1998) Dancing at Lughnasa (1998) Nix dissimilate (1997) Sid and Nancy (1986) Scrubbers (1983)

Television
Absolutely Fabulous (1992) French and Saunders (1987) Gimme Gimme Gimme (co-wrote) Harry Enfield and Chums (1994) ''Harry Enfield's Television Programme (1990) Have I Got News For You (1990) Let Them Eat Cake (1999) Never Mind The Buzzcocks (1996) Pleasure Island (1999) Room 101 (1994) Shooting Gallery (1999) Ted & Ralph (1998) V Graham Norton'' (2002)