Born in London, Cole is the eldest of three siblings. She has a younger sister, Cassandra, and a brother, Dominic. Her mother is a telecentre manager and her father is a driving instructor. Cole trained at the Oxford School of Drama, graduating in 2002.

In 2009, Cole played Dr. Sarah King in Poirot: Appointment with Death. In 2009, Cole was cast in the lead role for a failed pilot prepared for Fox about a brilliant surgeon who endures adult-onset schizophrenia. That same year she also appeared in the films Surviving Evil and Doghouse.

In 2012, Cole appeared in a music video for Cheyenne Jackson’s “Before You”.

Since 2015, Cole has portrayed Dr. Paula Agard on a recurring basis in the USA Network series Suits, and appeared in an episode of the NBC series The Blacklist. The same year she also portrayed Mrs Sprot in the BBC’s Partners in Crime series, in two episodes adapting Agatha Christie’s N or M?.

In 2016, Cole opened at the Playhouse Theatre as Stevie in the world premiere of Matthew Perry’s play The End of Longing.