Fox began her career on Soul Train (1982–1983) and played roles on the daytime television soap operas Days of Our Lives (1988) and Generations (1989–1992).

Fox's breakthrough came in 1996, with roles in two box-office hit films, Roland Emmerich's Independence Day and F. Gary Gray's Set It Off.

Fox has starred in the films Booty Call (1997), Soul Food (1997), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), Kingdom Come (2001), Two Can Play That Game (2001), and Boat Trip (2002).

She scored leading roles in the short-lived Fox sitcom Getting Personal (1998) and the CBS medical drama City of Angels (2000).

[4] While there, she was a dancer on Soul Train from 1983 to 1984, and also appeared in the music video for R&B group Klymaxx's hit single, "Meeting in the Ladies Room".

Following her film debut in Oliver Stone's 1989 war drama movie Born on the Fourth of July, playing the role of a sex worker,[5] Fox was cast as Emily Franklin in the pilot episode of ABC comedy series, Living Dolls, a spin-off of the sitcom Who's the Boss?

Later that year, Fox was cast as Maya Reubens, the leading character in the NBC daytime soap opera Generations.

[6] In the early 1990s, Fox began appearing in prime time television, playing guest-starring roles on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, 90210, Family Matters, Matlock, and Martin.

[7] In 1996, Fox played Will Smith's character's girlfriend, Jasmine Dubrow, in the epic sci-fi disaster blockbuster Independence Day, directed by Roland Emmerich.

[9] Later that year, she played Francesca "Frankie" Sutton in the crime action film Set It Off opposite Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah and Kimberly Elise.

Also in 1998, Fox starred alongside Halle Berry, Lela Rochon and Larenz Tate in the romantic drama film Why Do Fools Fall in Love, playing one of the three wives of singer Frankie Lymon.

[17] In 2001, Fox played Lucille Slocumb in Kingdom Come, a comedy-drama starring LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Whoopi Goldberg.

[20] From 2004 to 2006, Fox co-produced and starred as FBI special agent Nicole Scott in the Lifetime television crime drama series Missing.

From 2007 to 2009, she had a recurring role in the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, as the mother of a family displaced by a hurricane and taken in by Larry and Cheryl.

[23] In the late 2000s and 2010s, Fox had supporting roles in films poorly received by critics, such as The Hard Corps (2006) alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kickin' It Old Skool (2007) starring Jamie Kennedy, and Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous (2008) with Jessica Simpson.

On television, she had guest starring roles on Law & Order, Drop Dead Diva, Melissa & Joey, Femme Fatales, and Raising Hope.

[24] In 2012, she acted in the Nigerian action drama film Black November, starring Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Akon, and Wyclef Jean.

[34] Later that year, Fox starred in Mercenaries, alongside Kristanna Loken, Brigitte Nielsen, Cynthia Rothrock, Zoë Bell, and Nicole Bilderback.

[39][40] Fox was in the crime action thriller The Good, the Bad, and the Dead, starring Johnny Messner, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, and Michael Paré.

During this time, she had a supporting role in the film Chocolate City: Vegas Strip starring Robert Ri'chard, Michael Jai White, Mekhi Phifer, Ginuwine, and Melanie Brown.

[74] She co-starred with Tom Arnold and Elisabeth Röhm in the drama A Marriage Made In Heaven,[75] and had a part in Bobcat Moretti with rapper Coolio.

[82][83] In January 2024, it was announced that a biographical drama thriller film based on a true story of the life of convict Quawntay Adams and titled Bosco would be released for the streaming service Peacock, with Nicholas Manuel Pino writing and directing, and Aubrey Joseph, Nikki Blonsky, Tyrese Gibson, Theo Rossi, Thomas Jane and Vivica A.

She was acted in the Not Another Church Movie, alongside Kevin Daniels, Lamorne Morris, Tisha Campbell, Jasmine Guy, Lydia Styslinger, James Michael Cummings, Kyla Pratt, Mickey Rourke, and Jamie Foxx.

She began her career appearing on a regular basis on soap operas Days of Our Lives (1988), Generations (1989–1991), and The Young and the Restless (1994–1995), and the sitcom Out All Night (1992–1993).

She has also received nominations for nine NAACP Image Awards, include three times in a category Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for Soul Food, Two Can Play That Game and Juwanna Mann.