A graduate of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, Carradine studied anthropology for two years before ultimately switching her major to theater. Upon graduating in 1996, Carradine moved back to Los Angeles and set about finding work in television in a number of bit parts, starting with a guest role on the CBS mystery series “Diagnosis Murder” (1993-2001). Later that year, Carradine popped up in the HBO comedy series “Tracey Takes On” (1996-99) starring Tracey Ullman.
Continuing to work in television, Carradine eventually won a recurring role on the short-lived sitcom, “Conrad Bloom” (NBC, 1998). Soon after “Bloom”’s cancellation, Carradine scored an even bigger recurring role (playing the ditzy Pepper) in the Kirstie Alley vehicle “Veronica’s Closet” (NBC, 1997-2000). Carradine made a total of eight appearances on “Veronica’s Closet” before that show, too, was canceled. Undaunted, Carradine remained active on the lucrative guest-star circuit and continued to find work on a number of high-profile series including “Party of Five”(in which she played Neve Campbell’s home wrecking rival, Rosalie), and she was especially effective on the admired ABC drama “Once & Again” as the sweet but insecure trophy wife Tiffany Porter, starting in 2001.
In addition to appearing in a handful of well-received movies-of-the-week, Carradine also returned to feature work. In 1999, Carradine played the love interest of funnyman David Spade in his first solo comedy, “Lost & Found”. The film was a bomb, both critically and financially. Nevertheless, Carradine rebounded the following year by turning up in two more comedies: the cult gem “Bubble Boy” directed by Blair Hayes and Kevin Smith’s mainstream hit, “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”.
Returning to television in 2003, Carradine’s good fortune seemed to continue when she landed her first regular series role on the short-lived, but critically acclaimed drama “Lucky” (FX, 2003) starring John Corbett. The show, about a professional poker player living in Las Vegas, found a loyal following early on. Unfortunately, “Lucky”’s fortunes proved anything but: suffering from low ratings, it was not renewed for a second season. In 2005, Carradine was cast by writer-producer Rob Lurie to co-star in his new political drama, “Commander in Chief',' ABC's biggest freshman hit of that season. As Kelly Ludlow, the tyro press secretary to U.S. President Mackenzie Allen (played by Geena Davis), Carradine found herself playing someone more capable and less eccentric than her previous roles.