At age 16, she landed her first feature film part in “Little Shop of Horrors” (1986), playing the part of Crystal, and sharing the big screen with future “Martin” co-star Tisha Campbell as one third of the female singing trio. She played the same part simultaneously onstage and for five years after. She took on yet another stage role in the traveling company of “The Buddy Holly Story,” but the rigorous traveling schedule convinced her to stick with television if she wanted to stay closer to home.
Soon enough, Arnold landed parts on soap operas, appearing from 1987-89 on “Ryan’s Hope” (1975-1989) and from 1989-1990 on “All My Children” (1970- ), both on ABC. For her portrayal of the troubled teen Zena, on “Ryan’s Hope,” she earned an Emmy nomination at age 16. She also appeared in bit parts in New York-based TV shows, such as a 1989 episode of NBC’s “The Cosby Show” entitled “Theo’s Women,” and in a first-year episode of NBC’s “Law & Order” in 1990.
With years of experience in several mediums already under her belt, the 21-year-old made the big move to Los Angeles. In just two months she won the part of Pam, best friend of Martin Lawrence’s girlfriend, played by old "Horrors" castmate Tisha Campbell, on the hit TV series, “Martin” (Fox, 1992-97). A regular for the next five years, the sassy but sweet Arnold was always ready with a quick comeback, dissing on Lawrence as good as he gave.
After the show’s successful run, she picked up bit parts here and there in smaller features such as “Fakin’ Da Funk” in 1997, and in the HBO TV movie, “Perfect Prey” in 1998. She appeared on the WB’s “The Jamie Foxx Show” in 1998 and an episode of the USA Network’s “Pacific Blue” and ABC’s “The Norm Show,” both in 1999. On the big screen, she returned to Martin Lawrence territory with the monster hit, “Big Mama’s House” in 2000. After more guest roles in shows such as “Soul Food” (Showtime) in 2002 and the short-lived “Listen Up,” (CBS) opposite Jason Alexander and Malcolm Jamal-Warner in 2004, she landed another regular role, that of Nicole Barnes, on the UPN sitcom, “One on One,” beginning in 2003. Despite consistent TV work , the stage still beckoned. Arnold performed the lead role in the touring musical, “If These Hips Could Talk” in 2004.
The busy actress also found time to start her own clothing and accessory line, China Moon Rags, which was followed by another line, Black Hollywood, featuring likenesses of such prominent African-American entertainers as Lena Horn and Ella Fitzgerald. Arnold struck TV gold again when, in 2005, she won the part of Rochelle Rock, mother of the title character in “Everybody Hates Chris,” the semi-autobiographical comedy from comedian Chris Rock. The show was an instant critical and popular hit.
Arnold joined the ensemble cast of “Wild Hogs” (2007), a big, dumb and hugely successful comedy about four down-and-out men (John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy) going through respective mid-life crises who embark on a freewheeling, cross-country motorcycle trip in order to prove their manhood. Of the women in the film, only Arnold stood out with her performance, playing the feisty and demanding wife of a plumber and wannabe novelist (Lawrence). Despite scores of bad reviews, many of which complained about the bizarre, almost obsessive need for the four leads to constantly prove their heterosexuality onscreen, “Wild Hogs” dominated the box office its opening weekend, taking in almost $40 million and making it the first bona fide hit of 2007.