Ripley was raised in Broughty Ferry, outside of Dundee, Scotland. Her father and grandfather owned an opticians' business, and her mother worked as a wardrobe mistress at Dundee Rep. Ripley would accompany her mother to rehearsals and replaced a young actress in the play Roar Like a Dove one week before it opened, which gained the notice of a talent scout. Six months before filming began for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, she travelled to London with her parents to audition for the role of Jemima Potts. It was the first film for the two child stars, Ripley and Adrian Hall, who were cast after an extensive talent search.
Ripley took lessons to change her accent for the film, and later recalled: "They thought I was perfect for the part, apart from the accent. But they said that wasn't a problem as they'd get rid of it. I thought that sounded a bit ominous. What did they mean? Brain surgery?” Accompanied by her mother, Ripley was away from her Dundee home for 14 months for the filming of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
After making Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Ripley continued to audition for roles and eventually left the film industry. Her earnings from the film were held in trust until her 18th birthday, but she later recalled "After 10 years of it being invested, it was only about £7,000". She returned to Dundee, where she later joined the family optician business. Ripley also became involved in anti-nuclear activism and campaigns for the environment.

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