Like many future sitcom divas, Richardson's career began in legitimate theater. In her very first NYC audition, she won a job as understudy for the title role in the Angela Lansbury starrer "Gypsy". Richardson went on to do the national tour and filled in for some of the chorus roles. After several appearances off-Broadway, her Broadway break came when she originated a role in Michael Weller's "Loose Ends". Richardson next starred in "The Wake of Jimmy Foster", penned by her old college classmate Beth Henley. Infamously finicky NEW YORK magazine theater critic John Simon lauded her as "one of the ten best performers of 1985" for her work in the Broadway production "Cruise Control". In-between legit acting jobs, Richardson appeared in numerous commercials. She landed her best feature role (to date) as a nurse who is attracted to beekeeper Peter Fonda in the indie "Ulee's Gold" (1997).