Budig graduated from the Cincinnati School of the Performing Arts (S.C.P.A.) and later went on to major in zoology at Miami University in Ohio. In 1993, Budig moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue an acting career. While there, she began studying with acting coaches Howard Fine and Jay Goldenberg at the Howard Fine Acting Studio and at the Young Actors Space, respectively.
Budig's first acting job was in Aerosmith's music video Living on the Edge. She later had a cameo role as a teenage girl saved by Chris O'Donnell's Robin in Batman Forever. In 1995, she auditioned for the role of Kelsey Jefferson on All My Children, but received an offer from Guiding Light, where she began her three-year stint as Michelle Bauer from (1995 to 1998).
Budig played the role of Patty in Captain Nuke and the Bomber Boys in 1995. She then portrayed Babsy in the 1996 film God's Lonely Man. Followed by James Dean: A Race with Destiny where she played acclaimed actress Natalie Wood and Bonehead Detectives in the Paleo World where she played Allie.
Both films were released in 1997. However, her most famous role has been that of the spoiled, rich girl-turned-makeup company executive Greenlee Smythe on All My Children a role which she originated and portrayed from August 11, 1999 until making her final appearance on All My Children on November 30, 2005. The role of Greenlee Symthe was supposed to last for only three months, but executives enjoyed her so much, she was offered a three-year contract. While on All My Children, Budig garnered much accolade from fans and press for her performance on the soap opera, as well as her character's pairing with Josh Duhamel's Leo du Pres.
Budig was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2001 and again in 2003. Her onscreen pairing with Duhamel earned them a Daytime Emmy Award nomination as well, for America's Favorite Couple in 2002. She was often called "Little Budig" by Duhamel, who had given her the nickname.
In 2003, Budig won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Younger Lead Actress in her role as Greenlee Smythe. Other notable roles include co-hosting The Sports Illustrated for Kids Show. Budig worked for the World Wrestling Federation as an interviewer for a short time on Sunday Night HEAT in 2000. She has made appearances on Out of Practice, as well as on Hope & Faith.
Budig recently did a movie called The Perfect Child (2007) featured on Lifetime with the leading role as Sarah Daniels. In addition, Budig has been seen on CSI. It was confirmed in late 2007 that she would be returning to All My Children as Greenlee Smythe, the role she originated. She began airing in 2008.
