[3] Dela Cruz's acting career was started with ABS-CBN in 1996 in the primetime drama Mara Clara and Esperanza in 1997 until 1999, both starring Judy Ann Santos.
In an episode of Showbiz Central, de la Cruz revealed that she had married Orion Casareo in August 2008 and was expecting a child.
ABS-CBN saw her potential as an actress and she plays her role as Joyce in the second book of Mara Clara with Judy Ann Santos and Gladys Reyes.
[7] She was also cast in other youth-oriented movies such as Istokwa with Mark Anthony Fernandez and was launched as the lead star in Huwag Mo Nang Itanong and Seventeen...
She received critical acclaim in the movie Manananggal ng Manila which she starred alongside Alma Concepcion, Tonton Gutierrez, Eric Fructuoso and Aiza Seguerra.
She was able to showcase her acting ability by playing the lead role in the mini-series Liwanag ng Hatinggabi with award-winning actress Lorna Tolentino and in Umulan Man o Umaraw.
[7] After the success of Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin, she once again headlined another primetime drama entitled Habang Kapiling Ka opposite Victor Neri who played Erica Malvarosa.
After her contract with GMA expired in 2003, dela Cruz moved back to ABS-CBN and teamed-up with her former on-and-off screen partner Jericho Rosales in the TV series Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas with Diether Ocampo and Kristine Hermosa.
After the success of Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas, dela Cruz was cast in another primetime television drama called Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin where she shared the screen with Star Magic's brightest talents such as Claudine Barretto, John Lloyd Cruz, Shaina Magdayao and Bea Alonzo.
Her career took a different direction in 2006 when she played an anti-heroine role to Sarah Geronimo in the drama series Bituing Walang Ningning, a TV adaptation of a 1980s movie starring Cherie Gil and Sharon Cuneta.
In 2008, dela Cruz signed up with GMA Network and made a comeback via primetime drama series Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita where she played the villain role of Via Fausto.
Later that year, she was given a role in the afternoon drama series Una Kang Naging Akin, again she is the main antagonist which became a consistent top rater in the ratings game.
After giving birth, dela Cruz returned to the screen by playing Iza Calzado's good-hearted sister in the afternoon drama series Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit.
She made a guest appearance on the pilot episode of Ruben Marcelino's Kokak before being cast as one of the leads in the primetime drama series Biritera in which she received positive reviews.
In 2016, Dela Cruz played Evelyn as Larry's lovable wife and Ana's protagonist mother in Hanggang Makita Kang Muli.