Cyd Hayman originally planned to become a journalist but turned to acting through LAMDA, taking various jobs to pay her fees. She worked in rep at Liverpool, Ipswich, Folkestone and the Mermaid in London before getting her big break on television in the series Manhunt (1969), in which she played the leading role of Nina. Before that, she had appeared in Armchair Theatre (1956), the BBC's The Wednesday Play (1964), and Love Story (1963). Other television roles include Clochemerle (1972), The Lotus Eaters (1972), The Persuaders! (1971), Crime of Passion (1970), The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971), and The Two Ronnies (1971). Her film credits include Percy (1971) and Guns Before Butter (2005).