She was introduced as a sexy nymphet in
Celso Ad. Castillo's steamy movie,
Uhaw Na Dagat (1980). She appeared movies such as
Burgis (1981),
Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap (1984),
Ang Bukas Ay Akin (1989),
Barumbado (1990),
Alyas Baby Face (1990), and
Dahil Mahal Na Mahal Kita (1998). In 1995 Rivas was a regular in the GMA Telenovela
Villa Quintana for which she received a Best Actress Nomination In 1999 she was cast in ABS-CBN's Primetime Drama
Saan Ka Man Naroroon, the critically acclaimed drama that ran for two years. She starred as a lead antagonist on the show. She was reunited with her co-star Rico Yan who was in the film
Dahil Mahal Na Mahal Kita in 1998. Rivas appeared in 2001 TV series
Recuerdo de Amor, aired in
ABS-CBN, starring
Diether Ocampo and
Carmina Villarroel and
Kahit Isang Saglit with
Jericho Rosales and Malaysian actress
Carmen Soo. She won the 1996
Star Awards for Television Best Drama Actress in
Villa Quintana and she also nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series by the
PMPC in 2002 for
Recuerdo de Amor. On television, she joined the cast of
Tepok Bunot (1981–82) a daily sitcom over Maharlika Broadcasting System – Channel 4 as the colegiala-speaking friend of Roderick Paulate and Bibeth Orteza. In 2018, she returned to showbiz via ABS-CBN's series
Los Bastardos. In November 2019, she made a comeback in GMA-7 to star in the television series with
Nora Aunor in
Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit based on the movie of the
same title. She was previously seen on the network during 2012–2013 via
Pahiram ng Sandali. ==Personal life==