She is best known for her role as resistance fighter Michelle Dubois in the British television series 'Allo 'Allo!, produced by the BBC. Her character is associated with what is probably the show’s most durable catchphrase, “Listen very carefully - I shall say this only once”.
Before then, Cooke was an occasional member of the ensemble of comedy actors who appeared in Dave Allen's sketches across several of his BBC series. She also starred in several episodes of the BBC children's comedy series ChuckleVision.