True was born in New York City in 1966. Her father is Jewish and her mother is of African-American and Native American descent. She has an older brother who isn’t in the public eye and a younger Noel True who is also an actor. True currently has no children. She attended the New York University, and in 1991 made her television debut on The Cosby Show. Later, she moved to Los Angeles, and began appearing on Beverly Hills, 90210, Getting By, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Dream On.

In 1993, True appeared opposite Chris Rock in his film CB4. After CB4, she was cast alongside Alyssa Milano in the horror film Embrace of the Vampire. True's breakthrough role was in the 1996 film The Craft, where she played a member of a teenage coven along with Robin Tunney, Neve Campbell and Fairuza Balk. The following year, she starred in Nowhere. True played Dave Chappelle's character's girlfriend in 1998 film Half Baked. From 1997 to 1998, she also had the recurring role of Janet Clemens on The Drew Carey Show. From 1999 to 2000, she appeared in the ABC drama series, Once and Again.

From 2002 to 2006, True starred opposite Essence Atkins in the UPN comedy series Half & Half. True played Mona Thorne, an insecure twenty-something music-industry executive in San Francisco who worked on strengthening her self-esteem and her relationship with her paternal half-sister, played by Atkins.