In addition to her ongoing role in Emmerdale, she also starred in the 2000 comedy film Purely Belter, and won the best actress award at the Monte Carlo International Television Festival in 1998 for her role in the film The Scar, about aCounty Durham pit community in crisis. She also starred as Sian in Byker Grove. Played the part of Mrs Castellino in the BBC Radio 4 production "The Little World of Don Camillo", and Our Mam in "My Uncle Freddie", both alongside fellow Emmerdale actor Shaun Prendergast (Greg Dolland). In 2007 Hardwick was an occasional contributor on Grumpy Old Women. For her role on Emmerdale Hardwick has been nominated 6 times at the British Soap Awards, winning in 2006 for Best Comedy Performance.