Both of her parents being Cantonese Opera stars - Chan Fei Nung and Kung Fan Hung. Connie Chan as an actor is of undoubted pedigree and to the manner born. She learned the skills of  Cantonese Opera from her parents and after that she became an apprentice under Peking Opera master Fen Ju Hua and Cantonese Superstar Yam Kim Fai. Hence she was trained in both the Southern and Northern styles of martial arts and operas. She made her screen debut with Chun Heung Lin in 1958 and then appeared with opera legend Yam Kim Fai in the Cantonese opera film The Unroyal Prince. She was one of the most popular actresses in the sixties. In 1967  alone, she played in 32 films. Chan is a versatile actress and she can play both male and female roles. She appeared in films like costumed action movies, dramas, comedies and also musicals. An icon of young girls in the sixties, her popularity was such that she was known as the Movie Princess at that time. 

Was a member of Madame Fan Fok-Fa's The Spring And Autumn Drama School's Peking Opera.