Bethany Lee made her television acting debut in 1970 with a recurring roleon the television series The Long Arm as well as guest appearances on Division 4 and Homicide. In 1973, she played the lead female in the film adaptation of Come Out Fighting and had a brief stint on Number 96 during early 1974. Her character was introduced as the "chaste and studious schoolgirl" Penny Snow who, with classmate Colin Campbell, move into one of the vacant apartments as a squatter. Her character's mother, Trixie O'Toole, later moved into the building and eventually became one of the series early villains. Shortly before leaving the series, Penny Snow broke contact with her mother and disappeared. Her character reappeared later in the series when Trixie O'Toole, in an attempt to deceive George Snow, got Edie MacDonald to impersonate Penny by dressing her in a school uniform. Lee later criticized the nudity in the series, specifically referring to a nude shower scene she had been required to do, in an interview with TV Week stating, Lee again starred in a leading female role in the 1975 film The Firm Man. Between 1975–76, Lee guest starred on several television series, making return appearances on Division 4 and Homicide, but also including crime dramas Silent Number, Matlock Police, Bluey and historical dramas Tandarra and The Sullivans. After a supporting role in the 1977 western filmRaw Deal, Lee returned to television as a recurring character, Rhonda McDonald, on the drama seriesSkyways. In 1980, Lee was cast her most memorable role as Andrea Hennessy in the soap opera Prisoner. Her character, a political activist, first appeared leading a protest for prisoners' rights outside the prison. It was at this same protest that her character became involved in a physical altercation with one of the prison officers, Colleen Powell, which results in her imprisonment. An attempt is made to free her by friends, Ricky Dunning and Linda Golman, and results in the kidnapping of the Governor, Erica Davidson. Ricky would be killed by police, while Linda later committed suicide in prison. Lee's character, becoming increasingly unpopular among the other inmates, was eventually transferred to another prison block to serve out her remaining sentence. Although this was her final television role, she would make a return appearance as another character, Edith Kipman, in 1986.
