She graduated in Spring 2002 with honors from Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts with a BFA in the Liberal Arts, where she studied theatre, directing and playwriting.
Hinton began her career appearing in stage productions. She has made her film debut playing Khandi Alexander's character's daughter in the 2006 independent drama Rain. The following years, Hinton guest-starred in several television series such as Gilmore Girls, Everybody Hates Chris, Zoey 101, Ghost Whisperer, Gossip Girl, Lie to Me, Bones, and Scandal. In 2008 she did a Hanes commercial with Sarah Chalke. Other film credits include Broken Angel (2008) and The Roommate (2011), and well as Ion Television movie A Christmas Kiss (2011).
In September 2012, it was announced that Hinton had been cast as new intern Stephanie Edwards for ninth season of Shonda Rhimes medical drama series Grey's Anatomy.
In January 2013, it was announced that Hinton along with other newcomers to the show were given the option to become series regulars if Grey's Anatomy were to be renewed. After three seasons as regular cast member on show, Shonda Rhimes cast Hinton as the lead character of her first comedy pilot Toast in March 2016. She would still be on Grey's Anatomy if her pilot had gone to series. The pilot was not ordered to series. In January 2017, it was announced that Hinton will co-star opposite Holly Hunter in Here and Now, a HBO drama series created by Alan Ball. She plays the role of Ashley Collins, one of the adopted children of Hunter's character.
