Clayton started her career in 1976 during the porn chic era when adult movies were shown in mainstream theaters. Her name would often appear in ads in major newspapers of the time, alongside other stars such as Annette Haven and Leslie Bovee.
Abigail Clayton was one of the first adult stars to move into mainstream films when she appeared in Bye Bye Monkey with Gérard Depardieu and Marcello Mastroianni. In 1980, she was cast as Rita in the horror film Maniac. Her last mainstream role was a small part as a nun in the Ryan O'Neal film So Fine in 1981.
