Born in Los Angeles on June 2, 1978, Cox expressed an interest in show business at age four. She was discovered by a prominent dance agent while taking dance classes, which led to her professional debut in the comedy film Mac et moi (1988). Dancing temporarily held center stage with appearances in Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (1988); a Los Angeles Music Center Ballet Tour; The Joffrey Ballet; Paula Abdul's video "Forever Your Girl"; "The MTV Awards" and The Arsenio Hall Show (1989). At age 10, Cox won her first speaking part in a guest-starring role in Mama's Family (1983). Her other television credits included Star Trek: La nouvelle génération (1987), Tribunal de nuit (1984), Murphy Brown (1988), Alerte à Malibu (1989) and Incorrigible Cory (1993). Cox also had starring roles in The Ryan White Story (1989) and the sci-fi thriller Danger Island (1992) - both television movies. She was also a series regular on NBC's Someone Like Me (1994). On the big screen, Cox was featured in the box-office hit Terminator 2 - Le jugement dernier (1991) and played Gina Cates, Jagger Cates' long-lost sister on ABC's Hôpital central (1963).
