Vanessa Bell Calloway began her acting career in the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children in 1985. After moving to Los Angeles in 1986, she began appearing in episodes of prime time television shows. In 1996, Calloway was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Under One Roof.
She made her film debut on Number One with a Bullet (1987), had a brief role in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. She co-starred in films including The Brothers, All About You, Dawg, Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Cheaper by the Dozen. In 2016, Calloway co-starred in the comedy-drama film Southside with You, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Calloway also had number of leading and supporting roles in the made for television movies.
Calloway has been married to anesthesiologist Dr. Anthony Calloway since 1988. The couple have two daughters, Ashley and Alexandra. She is also a survivor of breast cancer, and has been cancer free since 2009.