Vanessa Ferlito co-starred opposite John Leguizamo in the HBO telefilm Undefeated (as the ambitious, aspiring singer Lizette Sanchez) and co-starred as Kirsten Dunst's best friend in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man2.

Vanessa debuted on the big screen as an internet sex worker in the independent drama On_Line, which premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. She also appeared in Spike Lee's critically acclaimed drama 25th Hour opposite Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rosario Dawson and Anna Paquin. She also starred in the indie feature Tollbooth directed by Deborah Kirschner and the thriller Shadowboxer with Helen Mirren and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Her television credits are equally impressive, with guest-starring roles on three of the medium's most popular series Law & Order, Third Watch and HBO's Emmy-winning The Sopranos. She also co-starred (in a 10-episode arc) on FOX's riveting 24 in the recurring role of Claudia, the wife of a crime lord under investigation by agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). She also starred opposite Gary Sinise in the Jerry Bruckheimer drama series CSI: NY.