While at Jesus College, Cambridge, Montgomery was a member of the Footlights, its amateur theatrical club. Subsequently, she studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Montgomery built her career as one third of Comedy Theatre Company Population 3, along with James Bachman and Barunka O'Shaughnessy, and she appeared as a roving reporter for the comic television programme The Friday Night Project. Other television work has included Bo' Selecta!, The Mighty Boosh, and The IT Crowd.