Lai Suen began her career in film at the age of 17 before transitioning to television in the 1970s. She became a familiar face after joining TVB in 1990, appearing in many dramas including The Greed of Man in 1992, where she played the mother of the character portrayed by Adam Cheng Siu-Chau. Lai retired after starring in Only You in 2010 and had rarely appeared in public in recent years. In 2023, the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild awarded her the "Outstanding Performing Arts Award".