She acted in daytime soap operas such as The Edge of Night, Another World, and One Life to Live before moving to primetime television with a recurring role on Knots Landing.

[3] Cross began her television career in 1984 on the soap opera The Edge of Night, playing the recurring role of Liz Correll.

Afterwards, she relocated from New York to Los Angeles, and soon landed roles in television movies such as The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James, co-starring with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.

She also appeared in sitcoms such as Seinfeld, Boy Meets World, Ally McBeal, Spin City and The King of Queens.

[9] In 2015, Cross guest-starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and later she joined the cast of the thriller series Quantico, playing the recurring role of President Claire Haas, a former Democratic vice presidential nominee.

[11] Cross underwent in vitro fertilization soon after their wedding,[12] and gave birth to fraternal twin daughters in February 2007, shortly before her 45th birthday.

[15] She explained months later that she had decided to "put a dent in the stigma"[16] because she had discovered through online research that anal cancer patients were embarrassed about their diagnosis.

[18] She advocates for open discussions and further public information about the HPV infection,[17] which can cause cancers of the anus, cervix, ovary, penis, and throat:[19] "In spite of the optics, I care deeply about saving lives.

"[20] Cross expressed support for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war, citing the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, including on healthcare facilities.