Villanueva started as a commercial model, then joined defunct GMA youth-oriented program That's Entertainment in 1994, where her batchmate was another actress Rufa Mae Quinto.
(Thank God It's Sabado), youth-oriented drama series produced by Viva Television aired on GMA Network from 1995 to 1997, together with Angelu de Leon, Bobby Andrews, Onemig Bondoc, Ciara Sotto, her That's co-star Kim delos Santos, among others, and continued sequel Growing Up from 1997 to 1999.
Her last movie appearance was in the 2002 action-drama film Hari ng Selda: Anak ni Baby Ama 2 co-starring her with Robin Padilla and Angelika Dela Cruz.
She also continued her television career via Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin under GMA Network in 2002, wherein she reunited with her co-star Angelika Dela Cruz, the leading actress of the TV series.
She was previously married to actor and news anchor Diego Castro III on August 11, 1998 in the U.S., wherein she has a daughter, Angelica Claire.