Rodriguez took her first acting classes in 1983 in Taller Nacional de Teatro (National Theater Workshop) and Fundación Rajatabla.

She was first runner up in the Miss Venezuela competition in 1985 and was the Venezuelan representative in the 1985 Miss World, where she finished up as third runner up. Before entering the Miss Venezuela beauty pageant, she was a swimming instructor.

For one year Rodriguez was host of Telemundo programs: "Super Cine con Ruddy Rodríguez" (Super movie with Ruddy Rodríguez), "Fiesta del Sol" (Sun Party), and "Miss Hispanidad" (Miss Hispanity) in Miami. She also has been host in Venezuela TV Programs: "De Moda" (Televen) and "El Cafe de Rudy" (RCTV).

In 1991 she recorded a pop musical album: Espejismo (Mirage), which includes songs such as: "Me enamoré"(I felt in love), "Sembrándome amor" (Seed me love), "Es un sueño" (It's a dream), "No quiero caminar sobre fuego" (I don't want to walk on fire), "Dime qué signo eres tu" (Tell me your zodiac sign), "Y ahora es que regresa" (And now is your return), "Aqui esta lo bueno" (Here is the good thing), "Baila esta pesadilla"(Dance this nightmare), "Lo tengo todo" (I have everything), "¿No lo sabias?" (Didn't you know?).

She made 4 calendars (1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995), being the first Venezuelan actress whose calendars were sold in other countries: Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Russia. Her image is so popular, because she has appeared in hundreds TV commercials of different products.

On November 8, 2005 she was officially recognized by "Friends of UNICEF" for her continuous support of its mission. The Venezuela Independence Festival organized by Dade and Hialeah counties established July 31, 2005 as "Ruddy Rodríguez Official Day".

After the 1999 Vargas mudslides, a natural disaster in Venezuela, Rodríguez was one of the first Venezuelan actresses, who started collecting in Miami food, medicine, clothes and other goods to be sent to her needed countrymen and countrywomen. On March 2007, The City of Panama officially recognized Ruddy Rodríguez as "Illustrious Visitor".

She once promoted a line of swim suits. Rodriguez is now promoting her own line of cosmetics. She has opened five stores: two in Caracas, one in Valencia, one in Ciudad Guayana and one in Bogotá known as "Ruddy Rodríguez Cosmetics". More stores are planned for Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Miami.

Ruddy Rodriguez is a popular actress in telenovelas (Latin American TV soap opera) and TV special series. Rodríguez had a short appearance in the 1987 James Bond film: The Living Daylights.

Since 1999 Ruddy Rodriguez has been a dedicated Scientologist. Rodriguez has attended several worldwide scientology conferences and has met with other well-known scientologists such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.