Coulson's big television break came in 1993, when she became a household name after being cast in the part of Carol, the feisty battleaxe of the Jackson family, in the successful BBC serial drama "EastEnders". She remained in the role for four years, but a desire to try her hand at other roles prompted her to quit the role in 1997. She returned to the show for six months in 1999 and won the 2000 British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance. Despite saying in 2008 she would never return to "EastEnders", it was announced on 25 October 2009 Coulson would reprise her role as Carol Jackson in "EastEnders" in 2010 with her on-screen family Natalie Cassidy, who played Sonia Fowler, Dean Gaffney, who played Robbie Jackson, and the character of Billie Jackson played by Devon Anderson. The Jackson family have now reunited with Patsy Palmer, who rejoined the soap in 2008 in her role of Bianca Jackson. Coulson made her onscreen comeback in February 2010 before leaving once again in October 2015.