After training at LAMDA, Irene traveled widely with the Bristol Old Vic Company, including Europe, America and the Middle East. She worked in rep at Liverpool, Leatherhead, Worthing and Wolverhampton and did seasons at Stratford-on-Avon and Chichester and toured with a Shakespearean Company. She worked with Laurence Olivier's company and appeared in Olivier's film version of "Richard the Third". In addition, she worked extensively on the West End stage, including a year in "The Mousetrap", and acted in numerous radio and television plays before joining Coronation Street (1960) in 1968.