Born as Jennifer Ellen Chan in Los Angeles, she started out as an actor in 1983 with minor roles in both television shows and films. Her role in the sitcom Shaping Up (1984) gave a boost to her acting career and made her noticeable among film directors. This led to her being cast as Blanche ‘Monica’ Moran in The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), written and directed by Steve Kloves, where she starred opposite Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges. She established her prominence as an actor when she received an Academy Award for her role in Woody Allen’s Bullets over Broadway (1994). She has delivered a wide range of performances and showcased her prowess as an actor. Throughout her career, she has worked with renowned directors, be it Joe Pytka for Let It Ride (1989), Rob Minkoff for Stuart Little (1999), and The Haunted Mansion (2003). Apart from awards and nominations, she was honored with the Golden Gate Award in 2006.

In the past, Jennifer Tilly has worked with celebrity makeup artists which include: Virginia Linzee. Who is Jennifer Tilly's hair stylist? Some of the hair stylists that Jennifer Tilly has worked with for red carpet or editorial shoots include: Deborah Brider and Natasha Leibel.