As an actress, Hampshire worked in the theatre before moving to film and television work. She took the title role in a dramatised version of "Little Black Sambo" recorded by HMV Junior Record Club (words by David Croft, music by Cyril Ornadel). and sang on "The Midday Show" when ITV Anglia began broadcasting (as Anglia Television) in 1959. Her first starring role was in the film "During One Night" in 1960. She then took the leading role in a 1962 BBC adaptation of "What Katy Did". Soon afterwards, she was taken up by Walt Disney and starred in "The Three Lives of Thomasina" (opposite Patrick McGoohan) and "The Fighting Prince of Donegal". She would later appear opposite McGoohan again, in two episodes of "Danger Man". She co-starred with Cliff Richard in Sidney J. Furie's 1964 musical "Wonderful Life".