But Harry also had intentions of launching an acting career. She first appeared on film in 1978 with a small role in "The Foreigner," and played herself in "Roadie" (1980). But her first chance to really prove her mettle came with "Union City", a quirky independent film in which Harry was the wife of a neurotic businessman who beats a vagrant to death. Harry came away with good notices, and added her off-centered presence to "Videodrome" before playing the title role in "Forever, Lulu" (1987), although she only had a brief cameo appearance. Harry had a larger role for director John Waters in "Hairspray" (1988), in which she was Velma Von Tussle, the wife of another rock icon, Sonny Bono, and a demanding (although racist) stage mother driving her daughter to win the "Miss Auto Show" contest. Harry also had a quick part in "New York Stories" (1989). In James Mangold's "Heavy" (1996), she won praise for her portrayal of a world-weary waitress who embodies the ennui of the small town in which the film is set.
Her TV appearances have been sporadic. Harry had a recurring role in a 1989 storyline of the CBS series "Wiseguy" that focused on corruption in the music industry. She made her TV-movie debut playing a woman who sells phone sex and becomes the target of a serial killer in "Intimate Strangers" (Showtime, 1991). Harry also provided the voice of Vaingloria for the syndicated animated series "Phantom 2040" from 1994-96.