Lucy Liu
Biography
Born
to Chinese immigrants in Queens, New York, Lucy Liu has always tried
to balance an interest in her cultural heritage with a desire to
move beyond a strictly Asian-American experience. Once relegated
to "ethnic" parts, the energetic actress is finally earning
her stripes as an across-the-board leading lady.
Liu graduated
from Stuyvesant High School in 1986 and enrolled in New York University;
discouraged by the "dark and sarcastic" atmosphere of
NYU, however, she transferred to the University of Michigan after
her freshman year. She graduated from UM with a degree in Chinese
Language and Culture, managing to squeeze in some additional training
in dance, voice, fine arts, and acting. During her senior year,
Liu 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
Los Angeles and split her time between auditions and food service
day jobs, eventually scoring 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), "ER"
(1994), and "X Files, The" (1993). In 1996, she was cast
as an ambitious college student on Rhea Perlman's ephemeral sitcom
"Pearl" (1996).
Liu first
appeared on the big screen as an ex-girlfriend in Jerry Maguire
(1996) (she had previously filmed a scene in the indie Bang (1995),
but it was shelved for two years). She then waded through a series
of supporting parts in small films before landing her big break
on "Ally McBeal" (1997). Liu initially auditioned for
the role of Nelle Porter, which went to Portia de Rossi, but writer-producer
David E. Kelley was so impressed with her spunk 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
Liu filled with such aplomb that she was signed on as a regular
cast member.
The "Ally"
win gave Liu's film career a much-needed boost--in 1999, she was
cast as a dominatrix in the Mel Gibson action flick Payback (1999),
and as a hitchhiker in the ill-received boxing saga Play It to the
Bone (1999). The next 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 Charlie's
Angels (2000).
When
she's not hissing at clients or throwing well-coiffed punches, Liu
keeps busy with 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, and 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 and create art in China. Her hectic schedule doesn't leave
much time for romantic intrigue, but Liu says she prefers to keep
that side of her life uncluttered.
Lucy Liu Filmography
Charlie Chan (2007)
Kung Fu Panda (2008) .... Master Viper
Devil to Pay (2006)
The Cleaner (2006) .... Gina
Lucky Number Slevin (2005) .... Lindsey
Rise (2005) .... Sadie Blake
Domino (2005) .... Taryn Miles
3 Needles (2005) .... Jin Ping
Mulan II (2004) (V) (voice) .... Mei
"Maya & Miguel" (2004) TV Series (voice) .... Maggie
"Game Over" (2004/I) TV Series (voice) .... Raquel Smashenburn
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) .... O-Ren Ishii
... aka Kill Bill (USA: informal short title)
... aka Kill Bill 1 (USA: informal title)
... aka Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Volume One (USA: promotional
title)
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) .... Alex Munday
Chicago (2002) .... Kitty Baxter
... aka Chicago (Germany)
Cypher (2002) .... Rita Foster
Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002) .... Agent Sever
SSX Tricky (2001) (VG) (voice) .... Elise Riggs
Hotel (2001) .... Kawika
Charlie's Angels (2000) .... Alex Munday
... aka 3 Engel für Charlie (Germany)
Shanghai Noon (2000) .... Princess Pei Pei
Play It to the Bone (1999) .... Lia
... aka Play It (USA: promotional title)
The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human (1999) .... The Female's
Friend (Lydia)
Molly (1999) .... Brenda
True Crime (1999) (as Lucy Alexis Liu) .... Toy Shop Girl
Payback (1999) (as Lucy Alexis Liu) .... Pearl
"Ally McBeal" (1997) TV Series .... Ling Woo (1998-2002)
Love Kills (1998) .... Kashi
Guy (1997) (as Lucy Lui) .... Woman at newsstand
City of Industry (1997) (as Lucy Alexis Liu) .... Cathi Rose
Riot (1997/I) (TV) .... Boomer's Girlfriend (segment "Empty")
... aka Riot in the Streets (video title)
Gridlock'd (1997) (as Lucy Alexis Liu) .... Cee-Cee
Flypaper (1997) (as Lucy Alexis Liu) .... Dot
"Pearl" (1996) TV Series (as Lucy Alexis Liu) .... Amy
Li (1996-1997)
Jerry Maguire (1996) (as Lucy Alexis Liu) .... Former Girlfriend
Bang (1995) (as Lucy Lui) .... Hooker
Protozoa (1993) .... Ari
Ban wo zong heng (1992) .... Donna
... aka Rhythm of Destiny |
