Lee started playing small roles in Hong Kong movies in the 1980s.

[citation needed] After secondary school, she continued to play young teenagers in the 1980s until 1990.

In the early 90s she participated in erotic comedy films such as Sex and Zen 2 and Crazy Love.

Her performance in Ordinary Heroes earned her a Golden Horse Award in 1999 for Best Actress.

[1] In an interview with FHM, Lee revealed that her parents were Indonesian Hakka of Meixian ancestry.