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IMDbPro

Lucy Liu(I)

  • Actress
  • Director
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,000847
Lucy Liu at an event for Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet (2002)
In this extended interview, stars Zachary Levi, Lucy Liu, Jack Dylan Grazer, Asher Angel, and director David F. Sandberg get quizzed about their IMDb first credits, Wii injuries, first jobs, and much more.
Play Clip8:37
Burning Questions with the Stars of 'Shazam! Fury of The Gods' [Extended Cut]
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
Born to immigrants in New York City, Lucy Liu has always tried to balance an interest in her cultural heritage with a desire to move beyond a strictly Asian-American experience. Her mother, Cecilia, a biochemist, is from Beijing & her father, Tom Liu, a civil engineer, is from Shanghai. Once relegated to "ethnic" parts, the energetic actress is finally earning her stripes as an across-the-board leading lady.

She graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1986 & enrolled in NYU. However, she was discouraged by the dark and sarcastic atmosphere, so she transferred to the University of Michigan after her freshman year. She graduated w/ a degree in Asian Languages & Cultures, managing to squeeze in some additional training in dance, voice, fine arts & acting. During her senior year, she auditioned for a small part in a production of Alice in Wonderland and walked away with the lead. Encouraged by the experience, she decided to take the plunge into professional acting. She moved to L.A., splitting her time between auditions & food service day jobs. She eventually scored a guest appearance as a waitress on Beverly Hills 90210 (1990). That performance led to more walk-on parts in shows like NYPD Blue (1993), Teho-osasto (1994) & Salaiset kansiot (1993). In 1996, she was cast as an ambitious college student on Rhea Perlman's ephemeral sitcom Helmi (1996).

She first appeared on the big screen as an ex-girlfriend in Jerry Maguire - elämä on peliä (1996) (she had previously filmed a scene in the indie Bang (1995), but it was shelved for 2 years). She then waded through a series of supporting parts in small films before landing her big break on Ally McBeal (1997). She initially auditioned for the role of Nelle Porter, which went to Portia de Rossi. However, writer-producer David E. Kelley was so impressed w/ her that he promised to write a part for her in an upcoming episode. The part turned out to be that of growling, ill-tempered lawyer Ling Woo, which she filled w/ such aplomb that she was signed on as a regular cast member.

The "Ally" win gave her film career a much-needed boost-in 1999, she was cast as a dominatrix in the Mel Gibson action flick Payback - Tilinteko (1999) & as a hitchhiker in the ill-received boxing saga Knockout - täydellinen tyrmäys (1999). The following year brought even larger roles: first as the kidnapped Princess Pei Pei in Jackie Chan's western Shanghai Noon (2000), then as one-third of the comely crime-fighting trio in Charlien enkelit (2000).

When she's not hissing at clients or throwing well-coiffed punches, she keeps busy w/ an eclectic mix of off-screen hobbies. She practices the martial art of Kali-Eskrima-Silat (knife-and-stick fighting), skis, rock climbs, rides horses &plays the accordion. In 1993, she exhibited a collection of multimedia art pieces at the Cast Iron Gallery in SoHo (New York), after which she won a grant to study & create art in China. Her hectic schedule doesn't leave much time for romantic intrigue, but she says she prefers to keep that side of her life uncluttered.
BornDecember 2, 1968
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 2, 1968
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,000847
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy

Hollywood Icons, Then and Now

Hollywood Icons, Then and Now

Take a look back at these Hollywood icons in their early days to see how far they've come in their careers.
See the gallery
[object Object]
Photos

Photos819

Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu in Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
Lucy Liu in Why Women Kill (2019)
David Ogden Stiers, Lucy Liu, Portia de Rossi, Mark Metcalf, and Wayne Newton in Ally McBeal (1997)
Lucy Liu in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu in Charlien enkelit (2000)
Drew Barrymore, Bill Murray, and Lucy Liu in Charlien enkelit (2000)
Lucy Liu in The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)
Lucy Liu and Jack Davenport in Why Women Kill (2019)
Lucy Liu and Jack Davenport in Why Women Kill (2019)
Lucy Liu in I'd Like to Kill Ya, But I Just Washed My Hair (2019)
Lucy Liu in Why Women Kill (2019)
Lucy Liu in I'd Like to Kill Ya, But I Just Washed My Hair (2019)

Known for

Uma Thurman in Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Kill Bill: Volume 1
8.2
  • O-Ren Ishii
  • 2003
Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu in Charlien enkelit (2000)
Charlien enkelit
5.6
  • Alex
  • 2000
Richard Gere, Renée Zellweger, and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago (2002)
Chicago
7.2
  • Kitty Baxter
  • 2002
Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
4.9
  • Alex Munday
  • 2003

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress

  • Shazam! Fury of the Gods
    • Post-production
  • Red One
    • In Production
  • Exploding Kittens
    • (voice)
    • Pre-production
  • Kung Fu Panda 4
    • (voice)
    • Pre-production
  • Untitled Workplace Comedy
    • Pre-production
  • The Invisibles
    • Pre-production
  • A Man in Full
    • Post-production
  • Dennis Quaid, Lucy Liu, Gabrielle Union, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Jaboukie Young-White in Ihmeellinen maailma (2022)
    Ihmeellinen maailma
    • (voice)
  • Death to 2021 (2021)
    Death to 2021
  • Larry David in Jäitä hattuun (2000)
    Jäitä hattuun
  • Matthew Lillard, Grey Griffin, Frank Welker, and Kate Micucci in Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? (2019)
    Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?
    • (voice)
  • Star Wars: Visions (2021)
    Star Wars: Visions
    • (English version, voice)
  • Stage Mother (2020)
    Stage Mother
  • Allison Tolman in Why Women Kill (2019)
    Why Women Kill
  • Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in Holmes NYC (2012)
    Holmes NYC
  • Animals. (2016)
    Animals.
    • (voice)
  • Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu, Glen Powell, and Zoey Deutch in Samassa juonessa (2018)
    Samassa juonessa
  • Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, and James Franco in Future World (2018)
    Future World
  • Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, and Ryan Dillon in Seesamitie (1969)
    Seesamitie
  • Michael Jackson's Halloween (2017)
    Michael Jackson's Halloween
    • (voice)
  • Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner in Difficult People (2015)
    Difficult People
  • Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011)
    Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
    • (voice)

Director

  • New Amsterdam (2018)
    New Amsterdam
  • Allison Tolman in Why Women Kill (2019)
    Why Women Kill
  • Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in Holmes NYC (2012)
    Holmes NYC
  • Mariska Hargitay in Kova laki: Erikoisyksikkö (1999)
    Kova laki: Erikoisyksikkö
  • Mike Colter in Luke Cage (2016)
    Luke Cage
  • Daniel Sunjata and Aaron Tveit in Graceland (2013)
    Graceland
  • Meena (2012)
    Meena

Producer

  • UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality (2021)
    UNZIPPED: An Autopsy of American Inequality
  • Redlight (2009)
    Redlight
  • Nicollette Sheridan, Lucy Liu, and Cedric the Entertainer in Koodinimi: Siivooja (2007)
    Koodinimi: Siivooja
  • Vapauden kiihko (2006)
    Vapauden kiihko
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

IMDb Best of 2022

IMDb Best of 2022

Discover the stars who skyrocketed on IMDb’s STARmeter chart this year, and explore more of the Best of 2022; including top trailers, posters, and photos.
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Image caption not available

Videos181

Burning Questions with the Stars of 'Shazam! Fury of The Gods' [Extended Cut]
Clip 8:37
Burning Questions with the Stars of 'Shazam! Fury of The Gods' [Extended Cut]
How Well Do the ‘Shazam! Fury of The Gods’ Cast Know One Another?
Clip 3:52
How Well Do the ‘Shazam! Fury of The Gods’ Cast Know One Another?
Kung Fu Panda 3
Clip 1:23
Kung Fu Panda 3
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
Clip 0:43
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
Clip 0:49
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast
Clip 6:06
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast
Mulan II: 2-Movie Collection
Clip 2:02
Mulan II: 2-Movie Collection
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue
Clip 1:02
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Clip 0:20
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Clip 0:25
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Clip 0:16
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Clip 1:08
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • December 2, 1968
    • New York City, New York, USA
    • (Sibling)
  • Other works
    2000: TV commercial for Revlon.
  • Publicity listings
    • 8 Interviews
    • 7 Articles
    • 22 Pictorials
    • 22 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Speaks Mandarin Chinese and English fluently.
  • Quotes
    I grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens, with no money. I was taught not to take anything for granted. If you are too busy being a diva or a freak, then you are not enjoying it.
    • Holmes NYC
      (2012)
      $130,000 per episode (2013-2014)

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