Joy made her feature film debut in a movie called The Debut, one of the first Filipino American stories to be told on the big screen, which was filmed in 1997. In the movie, she played the role of Annabelle Manalo, the love interest to Dante Basco's Ben, a character that holds a special significance for Filipino Americans, as Dante's earlier work in Hook is well-known. Joy's experience working opposite Dante was particularly enjoyable, as she has always been a fan of his work.
Before landing the role in The Debut, Joy was discovered by the casting people while attending a club promoting for a friend. This chance encounter led to her first film role, and she went on to have a small part in Ghost World, playing one of three rappers at a high school graduation ceremony, where she portrayed the character Jade, the Asian rapper.
Following her appearance in Ghost World, Joy was cast in the 2001 film Not Another Teen Movie, a parody of various teen movies from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. In the film, she played the role of Ashley, a parody of the Asian cheerleader in Bring It On, played by Nicole Bilderback. After her experience in film, Joy decided to venture into television, where she was cast as Casey Leong, a ghost character who returned, in the General Hospital spin-off Port Charles. She later played Casey's twin sister, Marisa, a role that became permanent and earned her a spot in the opening credits.
Joy also had the opportunity to narrate the amateur independent movie Lumpia, which was made in 1996, before her debut in The Debut.
