In 1928, Farrell was cast as the lead actress in the play "The Spider" and made her film debut in a minor role in "Lucky Boy". Farrell moved to New York City in 1929, where she replaced Erin O'Brien-Moore as Marion Hardy in Aurania Rouverol's play "Skidding". The play later served as the basis for the Andy Hardy film series. By April 1929, the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" reported that she had played the role 355 times. Farrell appeared in several other plays, including "Divided Honors", "Recapture", and "Love, Honor and Betray" with George Brent, Alice Brady, and Clark Gable.