Her career began in 1909 when she replied to a local newspaper advertisement placed by producer/director Thomas Ince's Bison Motion Pictures. During a time when studios rarely hired Native Americans, the movie studio was looking for an actress with the physical attributes to portray an American Indian and who was physically capable of doing stunts and riding horses. While she had never acted before, Workman fit the appearance that Ince wanted. She apparently embellished her riding skills, as she did not have any, but nevertheless quickly learned horsemanship. Given the stage name Mona Darkfeather (and later "Princess" Mona Darkfeather), she was cast in her first starring role as an Indian maiden named Owanee in the 1911 movie "Owanee's Great Love".