Adams' breakthrough role come around 1993 in Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused, the film which too experienced a role for Ben Affleck.

Swimming Alyssa Jones in the 1997 film Chasing Amy, opposite Ben Affleck, brought her the lot of attention for her portrayal of a lesbian who falls for the human. Director Kevin Smith wrote and directed a film, which was largely inspired by his relationship by having previous girlfriend Adams.

Her performance earned her two a 1997 Chicago Film Critics Award and Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for "Most Promising Actress" & the Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress inside the Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical. Adams likewise contributed a song "Alive" to the soundtrack of Chasing Amy, performing it in one of a scenes of the film.

She too appeared within both more View Askew productions, Mallrats (1995) and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), briefly reprising the role of Chasing Amy's Alyssa in the latter.

Within 2006 she'll release her directorial debut Come Early Morning starring Ashley Judd, Jeffrey Donovan, Diane Ladd, Tim Blake Nelson and Laura Prepon.