She pursued a screen career. In 1997, she had an uncredited role in the series Early Edition. Her first notable screen role was a recurring role as Jaclyn in the ABC series Cupid from 1998 to 1999. She went on guest star in the series The Drew Carey Show, Quintuplets, Joey, Related, Kitchen Confidential, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Surviving Suburbia, Rules of Engagement, Medium and The Exes. From 2003 to 2004, Paxson had a regular role in the NBC sitcom Happy Family as Sara Brennan. From 2007 to 2008, she co-starred as Julie in the ABC sitcom Notes from the Underbelly, the series aired for two seasons. From 2009 to 2010, she had a recurring role as Doris Madigan (née Aidem) on the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP. She is also the spokeswoman in Red Robin’s burger commercials.

Paxson’s film credits include Ready to Rumble (2000), Slackers (2002), Saving Mr. Banks as Dolly (Dolores Vought), Disney’s secretary (2013), and starring as Joyce DeWitt in the television film Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three’s Company (2003). She has appeared in television commercials for State Farm Insurance (playing the wife of fellow actor Justin Campbell, and is known for the famous query, “What are you wearing, ‘Jake from State Farm?'”), Fiber One, Target, Yoplait, Red Robin, Glad Trash Bags, Hotels.com, Icomfort mattresses, and 1-800-DENTIST. She starred in the 2015 Disney Channel TV Original Movie Descendants and its sequels, Descendants 2 Descendants 3. She played the Fairy Godmother from “Cinderella,” now serving as the Head Mistress for the school, Auradon Prep. She also played a mother of a schoolchild in the second episode of the second series of the ABC comedy Speechless, which played on October 4, 2017.