Tan Hui Lei Karrie graduated from the HK Academy For Performing Arts in 2000, and played as a freelance actress in the Oops! Belle the Witch is Gone! (Theatre Ensemble), Steaming (Theatre Space), The Sound Of Music (High Noon Productions) and several productions, musicals, and TV advertisements.

Since joining as a full time actress in late 2001, Tan played in Secret of Resurrection, A Matter of 4x6, A Dream Like a Dream, www.com, Tomorrow Is Another Day, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, Haunted, Haunted Little Star, Departure 00:00, Sweet & Sour Hong Kong, A Small Family Business, The Importance of Being Ernest, Rotate 270¢X, February 14, Vassa Zheleznova, (Rep 2 Series) The Cat & I ,Those were the days and Peter Pan.

She was awarded Best Actress (Tragedy / Drama) at the Ninth HK Drama Awards for her work of Ouiser Boudreaux in Steel Magnolias. She was also awarded Outstanding Actress for her work in Steel Magnolias and No Exit in the Academy for two consecutive years. In 2006, she was nominated the Best Supporting Actress (Comedy/Farce) at 15th HK Drama Awards for February 14.