Gordon was born in Brisbane, Australia, the daughter of Donna Gordon. Her great-grandfather was Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, and her great-grandmother was, Dame Enid Lyons, who was the first woman in the Australian parliament. Gordon is a 1996 graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney. Since her graduation, she has combined stage acting with various roles in Australian television and films.
In late 2004, Gordon married her partner of 11 years, actor Scott Johnson, who she met at NIDA. They divorced in 2009.
