After graduating from London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) she worked mainly in theatre, using the received pronunciation she was taught at RADA to extend her repertoire of Shakespeare. She also undertook television roles. The popular Lovejoy series starring Ian McShane needed a replacement when the character Eric Catchpole, Lovejoy's assistant, departed. Parish played the new assistant, Beth Taylor. Another television role was as Lola Christie, girlfriend of Mick McFarlane, the manager of the EastEnders night cafe, in 1998.