Williams first began her acting education in New York, earning a B.A. in Theatre Performance from Fordham University and later studying Shakespeare at Oxford University and at the British American Drama Academy in London.　　Williams has performed for two years on One Life to Live as Lorna and As the World Turns as Brandy. With this experience she parlayed her talents into several primetime roles, including the leading role of Bianca on Lifetime's Monarch Cove, Claudia on five episodes of the hit series How I Met Your Mother, Shelley Long's daughter who was snubbed at the altar in the film Honeymoon with Mom, and two seasons on Comedy Central's Strangers with Candy.　　Williams has performed guest starring roles and recurring characters on more than two dozen shows, including The Mentalist, Rules of Engagement, Better Off Ted, Lie to Me, In Plain Sight, Two and a Half Men, My Wife and Kids, Jack & Bobby, As the World Turns, Veronica Mars and Drop Dead Diva. She has also held lead roles on numerous television pilots for every major network.[1] In 2011, she began portraying the role of Lauren Reed on the USA Network series Fairly Legal.