I've done a lot of serious roles, but they're, like, independent, so it's harder for them to come out. The big ones have been comedies, but I would love to get a big drama to let people see the other side of me, that I am a serious actress.

Reid found her first taste of real mainstream success when Tara Reid portrayed the role of the virginal Vickie in the wildly successful American Pie (1999) which grossed over $100 million in US. As of October 2011 Reid has not headlined any wide release theatrical films since. Shortly thereafter Reid appeared alongside Ashton Kutcher in My Boss's Daughter for which Tara Reid was nominated for both Worst Supporting Actress and Worst Screen Couple at the 2004 Golden Raspberry Awards.

Reid has acted on television shows such as Saved By The Bell: The New Class Days of our Lives California Dreams and Scrubs. Her screen debut came in A Return to Salem's Lot (1987) followed by The Big Lebowski (1998) Urban Legend (1998) and American Pie (1999). She was a housemate in the 2011 series of British reality television show Celebrity Big Brother.