# Aileen Tan

Aileen Tan Lay Ching (born 18 October 1966) is a Singaporean actress.

## Life and career

Tan studied at Willow Secondary School. Tan worked in sales for more than a year before becoming an office administrator at an advertising agency.
Tan participated in Singapore Broadcasting Corporation's inaugural Star Search in 1988 and was placed second behind Zoe Tay. She also won the award for Most Photogenic.
Tan was often cast in leading roles in the first 15 years of her acting career, but has since played supporting roles in recent years.
She has been nominated multiple times in the Best Actress category at the annual Star Awards. She was nominated for the award in 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, and 2003; she won the award once in 2001 for her role in Three Women and a Half, playing a manager in an advertising company who would make use of her looks and charms to climb up the corporate ladder. Tan took a break from television in 2005. In 2006, she appeared in two Singapore dramas, Women of Times and Measure of Man, the latter drama clinching the runner-up position in 2006's television viewership ratings.
Tan also ventured into English dramas. In 2000, she played Mae in MediaCorp Channel 5's longest-running drama series, Growing Up. Later in 2009, she played Suzanne Kong, the wife of a tycoon in the 40-episode drama Red Thread. In 2013, Tan won Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 18th Asian Television Awards (ATA) for her role in The Day It Rained on Our Parade which consisted of four episodes. On 29 May 2015, it was announced that Tan will play the lead role in Jack Neo's film, Long Long Time Ago alongside Mark Lee and Wang Lei. At Star Awards 2017, Tan received the Best Supporting Actress award for the drama Hero. At Star Awards 2018, she landed her 4th nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the drama, Have a Little Faith.
Tan has won 2 Star Awards for Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes in 1994 and 1997.

## Personal life

Tan's parents are of Hokkien descent.
She married Hong Kong film director Gerald Lee in 2002. She experienced an ectopic pregnancy in 2006, which eventually led to an abortion.

## Filmography
### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988 | My Fair Ladies (窈窕淑女) | Ye Shuilian | |
| 1989 | The Fortune Hunters (钻石人生) | Li Qiumei | Cameo |
| 1989 | Good Morning, Sir! (早安老师) | Zhu Peiqi | |
| 1989 | Turn of the Tide (浮沉) | Li Meifang | |
| 1990 | The Finishing Line (出人头地) | Xia Miaoran | |
| 1990 | Journey's End (生命街车) | Qi Guigui | |
| 1990 | Happy World (多多富贵多多情) | Zhen Meili | |
| 1991 | The Darkest Hour (烈血青春) | Pang Lixue | |
| 1991 | Black Phoenix (黑凤凰) | Xiao Yunhong | |
| 1992 | Love Is in the Air (爱在女儿乡) | Xia Ni | |
| 1992 | Mystery II (迷离夜II 之《问我是谁》) | Huang Shuzhen | |
| 1993 | Angel of Vengeance (暴雨狂花) | Defence attorney | Special appearance |
| 1993 | Battle of Justice (人海孤鸿) | Leiyin | |
| 1994 | Bond of Love (情网) | Luo Qingyi | |
| 1994 | Scorned Angel (冷太阳) | Jiang Hailun | |
| 1994 | Dr Justice (法医故事) | Yang Xiaofan | |
| 1995 | Deep Within My Heart (爱在心处) | Li Qimei | |
| 1995 | Dr. Justice II (法医故事II) | Yang Xiaofan | |
| 1995 | The Blazing Trail | | |
| 1996 | River of Love (风雨柴船头) | Sun Yunfang | |
| 1996 | New Brave World (新阿郎) | Ye Ling | |
| 1997 | Crimes & Tribulations (狮城奇案录 之 第一个上绞台的女人) | Jian Mimi | |
| 1997 | My Wife, Your Wife, Their Wives (101老婆 之 赌神背后的女人) | | |
| 1998 | My Little Angels (我家小豆豆) | Zheng Minghui | |
| 1998 | The Scam (豪门奇骗) | Yang Wenqian | |
| 1998 | The New Adventures of Wisely | Bei Mengdan | |
| 1999 | P.I. Blues (乌龙档案) | Qiu Xiaoyu | |
| 2000 | My Home Affairs (家事) | Hong Liqing | |
| 2000 | Adam's Company (亚当周记) | Angel | |
| 2000–2001 | Growing Up | Mae | |
| 2001 | Three Women and a Half | Huang Tianli (Jane) | |
| 2001 | The Hotel | Yang Ruizhen | Cameo |
| 2002 | Beautiful Connection | Fan Keli | |
| 2003 | Health Matters 2 (一切由慎开始 2 之《天职》) | Huang Aiqin | |
| 2003 | Romance De Amour | Kang Li | |
| 2004 | Crime Hunters (心网追凶) | Fang Jiesi | |
| 2004 | When The Time Comes (一线之间) | Wang Wenxuan | |
| 2004 | Double Happiness | Luo Jiayu | |
| 2004 | Double Happiness II | Luo Jiayu | |
| 2005 | Love Concierge (爱的掌门人) | Producer Xu | |
| 2006 | Women of Times | Cynthia Jia Zengyue | |
| 2006 | Measure of Man | Patricia | |
| 2007 | Mars vs Venus | Li Yulian | |
| 2007 | The Greatest Love of All | Mo Lihua | |
| 2008 | Our Rice House | Li Ying | |
| 2008 | Nanny Daddy | Sophia Feng | |
| 2008 | Love Blossoms II | Daisy Ma | |
| 2009 | Red Thread (红色线) | Suzanne | |
| 2009 | My Buddy | Ye Peiyi | |
| 2009 | Together | Liu Maomao | |
| 2011 | Prosperity | Tang Aili | |
| 2011 | C.L.I.F. | Situ Yan | |
| 2011 | Devotion | Wu Aihao | |
| 2011 | Love Thy Neighbour | Lucy | |
| 2012 | The Day It Rained on Our Parade | Fei-ma | |
| 2012 | The Enchanted | Huang Songli | |
| 2013 | C.L.I.F. 2 | Situ Yan | |
| 2013 | Mata Mata | Yoke Lien | Channel 5 series |
| 2013 | The Enchanted | Huang Songli | |
| 2014 | Entangled | Lin Yueqin | |
| 2014 | World at Your Feet | Ye Laixiang | |
| 2014 | Mata Mata 2 | Yoke Lien | Channel 5 series |
| 2015 | Life Is Beautiful | Chen Miaoyu | |
| 2015 | The Journey: Our Homeland | Yang Lihua | |
| 2015 | Life - Fear Not | Zhuang Daomei | |
| 2016 | The Dream Job | Wang Bizhi | |
| 2016 | Eat Already? | Aunt Ah Shun | |
| 2016 | Hero | Huang Lili | |
| 2017 | Happy Can Already! | Yankee | |
| 2017 | Dream Coder | He Xiuxiang | |
| 2017 | Eat Already? 2 | Ah Shun-Sao | |
| 2017 | Have A Little Faith | Zhuang Kelian | |
| 2018 | Life Less Ordinary | Liew Xiuqin | |
| 2018 | Fifty & Fabulous (五零高手) | Liang Meimei | |
| 2018 | You Can Be An Angel 3 (你也可以是天使 3) | Zhou Lilian | |
| 2019 | If Only (离归) | Hong Jie | Directional debut project |
| 2019 | Hello Ms Driver (下一站，遇见) | Zheng Xueqin | |
| 2019 | I See You (看见看不见的你) | Peng Meifen | |
| 2020 | Happy Prince (快乐王子) | Sonia | |
| 2020 | All Around You (回路网) | Cai Yufeng | |
| 2021 | My Star Bride | Tang Liyin | |
| 2021 | 321 Action! (凶手的自白) | Wang Yaci | |
| 2021 | The Peculiar Pawnbroker (人心鉴定师) | Lin Meimei | |
| 2022 | I Want to be a Tow Kay (亲家冤家做头家) | Lucy Leow | |
| 2022 | Twisted Strings (良辰吉时) | Xiao Yu | HBO series |
| 2022 | When Duty Calls 2 (卫国先锋2) | Cai Xiuling | |
| 2022 | Dark Angel (黑天使) | Alex | |
| 2023 | Fix My Life | Ling Jie | |
| 2023 | Shero | Chen Meihua | |
| 2023 | I Do, Do I? | Hong Lixia | |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | The Blazing Trail (兰桂坊血案) | Li Shali | Telemovie |
| 1994 | A Chance of Life (一线生机) | Fang Suwen | Telemovie |
| 1995 | The Ultimate Truth (惊魂恋) | Zhou Jing | Telemovie |
| 1996 | Ace Cops (妙警点38) | Yao Jingjing | Telemovie |
| 1997 | Grandpa's Bak Kut Teh (阿公肉骨茶) | A-Yu | Telemovie |
| 2002 | Angel Heart (天使心) | | Feature film |
| 2015 | Ah Boys to Men 3: Frogmen | Lobang's mother | Feature film |
| 2016 | Long Long Time Ago | Lim Zhao Di | Feature film |
| 2016 | Long Long Time Ago 2 | Lim Zhao Di | Feature film |
| 2018 | Wonderful! Liang Xi Mei | Mrs Lu | Feature film |
| 2020 | The Diam Diam Era | Lim Zhaodi | Feature film |
| 2022 | The Betrothal Ceremony | Ryan's mother | Short film |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1994 | Star Awards | Top 5 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Won |
| 1995 | Star Awards | Top 5 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 1995 | Star Awards | Best Actress | The Blazing Trail (as Li Shali) | Nominated |
| 1996 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 1996 | Star Awards | Best Actress | Ace Cops (as Yao Jingjing) | Nominated |
| 1997 | Star Awards | Best Actress | Agong Bak Kut Teh (as Yu) | Nominated |
| 1997 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Won |
| 1998 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2001 | Star Awards | Best Actress | Three Women and a Half (as Jane) | Won |
| 2001 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2002 | Asian Television Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Three Women and a Half (as Jane) | Nominated |
| 2002 | Star Awards | Best Actress | Beautiful Connection (as Fang Keli) | Nominated |
| 2002 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2003 | Star Awards | Best Actress | Romance De Amour (as Kang Li) | Nominated |
| 2003 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2010 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Together (as Liu Mao Mao) | Nominated |
| 2012 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2013 | Asian Television Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | The Day It Rained on Our Parade (as Fei-Ma) | Won |
| 2014 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | C.L.I.F. 2 (as Seetoh Yan) | Nominated |
| 2016 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Evergreen Artiste | Hero (as Huang Lili) | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Hero (as Huang Lili) | Won |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Have A Little Faith (as Zhuang Kelian) | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Best Theme Song | Life Less Ordinary ("小人物向前冲") | Nominated |
| 2019 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | You Can Be An Angel 3 (as Zhou Lilian) | Nominated |
| 2019 | Star Awards | Best Evergreen Artiste | — | Nominated |
| 2019 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2021 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Hello Miss Driver (as Zheng Xueqin) | Nominated |
| 2021 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2022 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2023 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Dark Angel (as Alex) | Nominated |
| 2023 | Star Awards | Best Evergreen Artiste | — | Nominated |
| 2023 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2024 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Shero (as Chen Meihua) | Won |