Joey Lauren Adams was born on January 9, 1968, in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and grew up as the youngest of three children in a family where her father owned a lumber yard. Her aspiration to become an actress took root after spending a year as an exchange student in Australia, and she eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams.

Joey Lauren Adams made her acting debut in 1977 with a small role in "Exorcist II: The Heretic" and continued to find larger roles over the years. She gained significant recognition for her role in the 1993 film "Dazed and Confused" and later starred in the 1997 romantic comedy "Chasing Amy," for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

Her performance in "Chasing Amy" also earned her the Chicago Film Critics Association Award and the Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Most Promising Actress.

Joey Lauren Adams has also directed several projects and has been involved in various television roles, including a notable appearance in the comedy series "Still the King" alongside Billy Ray Cyrus.

Her distinctive voice has been a trademark throughout her career, and she has been mistaken for Renée Zellweger on several occasions. She married Brian Vilim in 2014, and they have been together ever since.