Hanson decided she wanted to be an Actress after landing a role in a school play as Kaa in The Jungle Book. A few years later she began acting with the Central Junior Television Workshop and made her television début in an episode of Dangerville in 2003. Three years later she landed the role of Smell in Shane Meadows' 2006 drama film This Is England. In 2008 she appeared in the television series Fresh!, playing the role of Alison. She continued to play this role in the 2009 spin-off series titled Off the Hook.
In 2010, Hanson reprised her role of Smell in the television sequel This Is England '86, appearing in all four episodes in the series. She reprised the role also in the two sequel series in 2011 and 2015.
In 2011, Hanson appeared in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's comedy series Life's Too Short playing Cheryl, Warwick Davis's secretary.
