Cruz started her career at age four. She won the
FAMAS best child actress award for her portrayal in the film
Mga Basang Sisiw opposite
Janice de Belen, Che Che and
Julie Vega. She also won best child actress for the film
Roman Rapido opposite
Fernando Poe Jr. She was also in the movie
Ang Leon at ang Kuting (1980) with Fernando Poe Jr. and in
Tropang Bulilit (1981) with
Niño Muhlach and
Lea Salonga. She was later contracted by
Regal Films along with
Kristina Paner and
Manilyn Reynes to form the group 'Triplets'. Among the three, Manilyn Reynes became the Star of the New Decade and Sheryl Cruz became the Princess of Philippine Cinema. At that time, GMA Network established the youth-oriented TV show ''
That's Entertainment'' hosted by
German Moreno, where she became part of the Wednesday group. Her movie career blossomed as part of Philippine cinema's most memorable love teams, that of herself and
Romnick Sarmenta. Cruz then signed a contract with
Seiko Films. She later married and moved to the United States. In August 2004, Cruz decided to return home, and starred in her comeback film,
Mano Po III: My Love, with her godmother Ms.
Vilma Santos-Recto, governor of Batangas. Cruz's biggest break was starring in two seasons of
Now and Forever,
Tinig and
Ganti, which garnered high ratings (equivalent to that of a primetime show) despite it being in an afternoon timeslot. She appeared on
Bakekang, where her antagonist character, Valeria, became a household name. In 2007–2008, she transferred to ABS-CBN after her career on GMA when she was offered to play Miss Minchin, the main antagonist of
Princess Sarah, as Xandra in
Komiks Presents: Varga, and a special participation role in
Lobo. She decided to transfer back to GMA Network to do
Luna Mystika, opposite a former talent of ABS-CBN,
Heart Evangelista. In the mid-plot of the
Sine Novela offering
Tinik sa Dibdib, Cruz was cast as an additional character in the series, rumored that she was the replacement of
Ara Mina. In the series, she was the lead antagonist, in the love triangle between Lando (portrayed by
Marvin Agustin) and Lorna (portrayed by
Sunshine Dizon in the first three weeks and
Nadine Samonte onwards). After her role in
Tinik sa Dibdib, Cruz was chosen by GMA Network to appear in
Langit sa Piling Mo as a guest star. She also starred in the first season of the GMA reality comedy series
Ang Yaman ni Lola and
Grazilda. In 2011, Cruz moved to
TV5 and joined the cast of
Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak. She immediately returned to GMA after the show ended through the remake of
Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin. In 2012, she returned to TV5 via
Isang Dakot na Luha. Cruz later returned to ABS-CBN the same year, appearing in a special participation role in the last episodes of the telescope
Walang Hanggan, playing the role of a younger Manang Henya (portrayed by her aunt
Susan Roces) in flashbacks. She, along with her cousin
Sunshine Cruz, also starred in the 2013 action-horror-drama series
Galema: Anak ni Zuma, starring
Andi Eigenmann. On December 7, 2013, Cruz won the P1,000,000 in
The Singing Bee with four consecutive correct answers. She returned to her home network GMA again in 2014, and was given many roles and TV appearances including the primetime drama series
Strawberry Lane. In 2019, she reunited with
Sunshine Dizon and once again started work in the newest drama series
Magkaagaw. She played the role of Veron Razon-Santos, an ambitious woman who is Mario's ex-wife turned evil mistress as she avenged by the affair with Jio, which is played by
Jeric Gonzales, who is the husband of Laura's daughter, Clarisse, which is played by
Klea Pineda. In 2022, she joined the cast of the afternoon drama series
Prima Donnas, portraying the role of Bethany Fajaro-Howards in Season 2. Initially depicted as a kind-hearted guardian to Donna Lyn / Lenlyn (portrayed by
Sofia Pablo) in Australia, her character transitions to the main antagonist, Kendra Fajardo Clavaria, replaces
Aiko Melendez's role in Season 1. Kendra's transformation into Bethany's doppelgänger becomes central to her plot of vengeance against the Claveria family, culminating in the demise of Sheryl's character. In 2024, she took on the main role of Patricia Valdez-Engano, the main antagonist of the afternoon legal drama series
Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law. Patricia harbors deep animosity towards Lilet (played by
Jo Berry) due to her status as the illegitimate child of a wealthy family. ==Politics==