Her parents came to the United States as medical residents with "just $50 to their names and built a life from scratch, knowing no one."

Tiu attended Divine Savior Holy Angels, an all girls high school.

Tiu has had many supporting roles in independent features such as The Specials with Rob Lowe and Thomas Haden Church.

Tiu's television work includes a series regular role in Desire, a recurring role in the suspense thriller 24 starring Kiefer Sutherland, as well as guest/recurring appearances on such shows as The Closer, Dragnet, Charmed, General Hospital and Days of Our Lives.

She was seen as Lata, an attorney defending Woody Harrelson in the film Rampart, also starring Sigourney Weaver, Ben Foster, Anne Heche and Steve Buscemi.