Wayans made her film debut in
Hollywood Shuffle (1987). Her earliest roles on television included a guest appearance on
China Beach and as Allison on
A Different World during its first season. In film, she portrayed minor characters in ''
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1989) and A Low Down Dirty Shame'' (1994). Both films were directed by her brother
Keenen Ivory Wayans. She starred with her siblings on the
Fox variety show
In Living Color. Wayans was a part of the cast at its outset in 1990, where she did celebrity impressions of
Naomi Campbell,
Whitney Houston,
Vanessa Williams and
Oprah Winfrey. Regarding original characters, one reviewer opined she was "hysterical" as Mrs. Brooks and another claimed Wayans played Benita Butrell "to perfection." She left the series along with her brothers Keenen Ivory and
Damon in 1993, after a dispute between Fox and the three Wayanses regarding reruns and syndication. In 1996, Wayans joined the cast of sitcom
In the House as Tonia. She provided the voice of Mrs. Wayne on short-lived cartoon
Waynehead. She appeared as Mrs. Johnson in ''
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), and had a starring role in the art film Talking About Sex
. She also appeared in two episodes as Sheila on The Wayans Bros. starring her younger brothers Marlon and Shawn. Wayans co-starred in Juwanna Mann'' (2002) as basketball player Latisha Jansen. Wayans then worked as a story editor on her brother Damon's sitcom
My Wife and Kids. In 2008, she co wrote a series of children's books with her husband Kevin Knotts, titled
Amy Hodgepodge, about a multiracial girl adjusting to life in public school after years of homeschooling. Known predominantly as a comedian, Wayans claims to have struggled finding roles in other mediums. However, in 2011, she was cast as Audrey, a mother who struggles to understand her seventeen-year-old daughter in the drama film
Pariah. According to director
Dee Rees, Wayans was chosen in the role as she was the only actress to give Audrey "vulnerability" in her audition. Following
Pariah, Wayans has acted in more dramatic fare, including guest spots on
Criminal Minds and
Hawaii Five-0. and portrayed Susan on
New Girl, appearing in an episode alongside her nephew,
Damon Wayans Jr. Wayans returned to sketch comedy, appearing in one episode of
A Black Lady Sketch Show in 2021. In November 2025, it was revealed that she joined the cast of
Scary Movie, which is set to release in June 2026. In January 2026, she launched a comedy series on YouTube titled
Still Got It with Izzi Fabulous. ==
In Living Color==