Townsend began producing theatre in 1999 when she returned from studying at Atlantic Theatre Company in New York. She decided to learn her craft on the boards and set up her first theatre company Wolf Whistle.
In 2008 Townsend studied at the Victorian College of the Arts gaining her post graduate degree in theatre directing.
In 2009, Townsend appeared in the US produced film Knowing, playing Grace Koestler, opposite Hollywood star Nicolas Cage.
Nadia is also carving a path as a film dramaturg, a rare job description in Australian film. Nadia was mentored by the dramaturg Nico Lathouris. Nadia is one of a few in the country to be pursuing this art form. In 2012 Nadia was Assistant Dramaturg on Director George Miller's latest instalment of the Mad Max franchise, "Fury Road".
In 2016, Townsend will appear in the sci-fi thriller Restoration, playing Emma Laws.
Nadia’s introduction to the small screen was in 2001 playing a regular role in the ABC drama series Head Start. She also starred in Fireflies for the ABC working under the widely respected executive Producer John Edwards.
