Chalke's acting career began at age eight when she began appearing in musical theater productions. At 12, she became a reporter on the Canadian children's show "KidZone". In 1993, she took over the role of Rebecca Conner-Healy on "Roseanne" after Lecy Goranson left the series; Chalke made a cameo appearance as a different character in the "Roseanne" episode "Halloween: The Final Chapter" (#178, originally aired October 31, 1995) after Goranson returned. Chalke later returned to the role of Becky after Goranson departed for a second time. After the show ended, Chalke returned briefly to Canada, where she starred in the CBC Television drama "Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy" (1998–1999).