Born in England, Carol moved to the United States as a youngster after her mother remarried a man in the U.S. Air Force. She attended grammar school in San Antonio, Texas, then John Marshall Junior High and Pasadena High School both in Pasadena, California. She returned to London in 1960 and soon began her film career.
She typically played in the Monty Python's Flying Circus sketches when a beautiful woman was called for - as opposed to the typical female role which had the male members in drag. Once referred to as "The Female Python," she cited John Cleese as her favorite performer to work with in the group due to his easy, relaxed nature and style. A character actress on stage, she has performed in such plays as "The Front Page," while also playing stripper Honey Bruce in a production of "Lenny." On November 29, 2003, she appeared on stage at The Royal Albert Hall for a tribute concert for late Beatle George Harrison with many of the Python members. Concert for George drummer Jim Keltner attended Pasadena High School with her. Before her Python fame, Carol appeared in advertisements for Triumph motorcycles for 1971, in particular, the aborted Triumph 350cc Bandit model.