Born and raised in Ohio, Floyd originally intended to pursue a career in opera but switched to acting in high school. While in college, she participated in the annual Irene Ryan Scholarship competition. One of the judges happened to be a talent scout from ABC who arranged an audition for the fledgling actress which in turn led to a regular role on the daytime drama "One Life to Live" in 1988. For just under a year, Floyd played Christine Cromwell, an ambitious photographer. When her soap stint ended, she returned to college to complete her education, then headed to L.A. Life in Southern California proved too much for her, though, and Floyd instead moved to NYC where she spent several years amassing stage credits and the occasional TV role (e.g., "Law & Order").
By the mid-1990s. Floyd's career began to move forward. After a featured role in the Off-Broadway premiere of Steve Martin's play "Picasso and the Lapin Agile", she landed her first leading role in films, playing a half of a couple trying to determine the future of their relationship in the indie "Breathing Room" (1996). Displaying a genial screen presence, Floyd sparkled in the role opposite co-star Dan Futterman (they soon became an off-screen couple as well). Al Pacino tapped her to co-star with him and Jerry Orbach in "Chinese Coffee" (lensed 1997) and she also landed a supporting role in the Harrison Ford-Kristin Scott Thomas vehicle "Random Hearts" (1999).