:Lucy Liu

File:Lucy Liu HS Yearbook.jpeg

Lucy Liu was born in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens.{{cite magazine |author=Minn, Tammy |title=Smart & Savvy Lucy Liu |magazine=Inland Empire Magazine |page=88 |date=November 2012 |quote=The youngest of three children born to Taiwanese immigrants, Liu was born in Queens, New York and attended public schools.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.qchron.com/qboro/i_have_often_walked/lucy-liu-from-jackson-heights-to-hollywood-lights/article_888cd6fe-9720-5252-ac80-6407885d8416.html|title=Lucy Liu, from Jackson Heights to Hollywood lights|work=Queens Chronicle|date=June 24, 2021|access-date=June 15, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616023832/https://www.qchron.com/qboro/i_have_often_walked/lucy-liu-from-jackson-heights-to-hollywood-lights/article_888cd6fe-9720-5252-ac80-6407885d8416.html|url-status=live}} In high school, she adopted a middle name, Alexis.{{cite magazine |last=Scharf |first=Lindzi |title=what's NOW! PARTIES |magazine=InStyle |page=108 |date=May 2012 |url=http://www.lindzi.com/features/INSTYLE_may12piece2.jpg |isbn=978-7099210640 |access-date=April 20, 2012 |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730075855/http://www.lindzi.com/features/INSTYLE_may12piece2.jpg |url-status=dead }} She is the youngest of three children. Her mother, Cecilia, worked as a biochemist, and her father, Tom Liu, was a civil engineer who also sold digital clock pens.{{cite news |author=Rose, Steve |title=Fragments of Lucy Liu |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/oct/05/lucy-liu-art-exhibition |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=October 5, 2011 |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302100937/http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/oct/05/lucy-liu-art-exhibition |url-status=live }} Liu's parents originally came from Beijing and Shanghai and immigrated to Taiwan as adults before meeting in New York.{{cite web |title=Lucy Liu- Biography |publisher=Yahoo! Movies |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/person/lucy-liu/biography.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807124219/https://movies.yahoo.com/person/lucy-liu/biography.html |archive-date=August 7, 2013}}{{cite web |author=Rajan Zed |date=January 22, 2010 |title=Hollywood's Lucy Liu to film in India |publisher=Scoop World |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1001/S00479/hollywoods-lucy-liu-to-film-in-india.htm |access-date=May 17, 2018 |archive-date=May 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517223156/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1001/S00479/hollywoods-lucy-liu-to-film-in-india.htm |url-status=live }} She has an older brother, John,{{cite news |first=Tiffany |last=Rose |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/lucy-liu-the-q-interview-542392.html |title=Lucy Liu: The Q interview – Features, Films |work=The Independent |date=June 29, 2003 |location=London |access-date=July 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117072458/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/lucy-liu-the-q-interview-542392.html |archive-date=November 17, 2010}}{{cite web |author=winie |url=http://blog.mtvasia.com/2009/10/27/the-asian-faces-of-hollywood/ |title=The Asian Faces of Hollywood |publisher=MTVAsia.com Blog |date=October 27, 2009 |access-date=July 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117010440/http://blog.mtvasia.com/2009/10/27/the-asian-faces-of-hollywood |archive-date=November 17, 2010}}{{cite news |author= |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/lucy-liu--an-agent-of-change-855072.html |title=Lucy Liu – an agent of change |work=The Independent |date=June 27, 2008 |location=London |access-date=March 8, 2010 |archive-date=February 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219234929/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/lucy-liu--an-agent-of-change-855072.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |first=Eric |last=Talmadge |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2008052078_appeopleliu.html |title=Liu says 'Kung Fu Panda' is an improve adventure |work=The Seattle Times |date=July 15, 2008 |access-date=July 6, 2010 |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622042909/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2008052078_appeopleliu.html |url-status=live }} and an older sister, Jenny.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130807124219/https://movies.yahoo.com/person/lucy-liu/biography.html "Lucy Liu- Biography"]}}. Yahoo! Movies. Her parents had many jobs while Lucy and her siblings were growing up.{{cite web |author=Josh Cooper |title=Brush with Fame: Lucy Liu |date=November 17, 2011 |url=http://www.hungertv.com/art-culture/feature/brush-with-fame-lucy-liu/ |access-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005234758/https://www.hungertv.com/art-culture/feature/brush-with-fame-lucy-liu/ |archive-date=October 5, 2012}}

Liu has stated that she grew up in a diverse neighborhood. She learned to speak Mandarin at home and began studying English when she was five.{{cite news |last=Radish |first=Christina |title=Lucy Liu and Shawn Ashmore Talk about '3 Needles' |publisher=MediaBlvd Magazine |date=December 6, 2006 |url=http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/the_news/celebrity/lucy_liu_and_shawn_ashmore_talk_about_%273_needles%27_20061206319.html |access-date=December 21, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120091404/http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/the_news/celebrity/lucy_liu_and_shawn_ashmore_talk_about_%273_needles%27_20061206319.html |archive-date=November 20, 2008}} She studied the martial art kali-eskrima-silat as a hobby when she was young.{{cite web |last=Estrin |first=Eric |url=http://www.latimesmagazine.com/2012/03/qla-lucy-liu.html |title=Q+LA Lucy Liu |work=Los Angeles Times Magazine |date=March 2012 |access-date=November 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011706/https://www.latimesmagazine.com/2012/03/qla-lucy-liu.html |archive-date=December 3, 2013}} Liu attended Joseph Pulitzer Middle School (I.S.145), and graduated from Stuyvesant High School.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/13/movies/perks-pitfalls-ruthless-killer-role-lucy-liu-boosts-body-count-new-film.html |title=The Perks and Pitfalls of a Ruthless-Killer Role; Lucy Liu Boosts the Body Count in New Film |first=Lola |last=Ogunnaike |date=October 13, 2003 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 10, 2018 |archive-date=November 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091110225410/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/13/movies/perks-pitfalls-ruthless-killer-role-lucy-liu-boosts-body-count-new-film.html |url-status=live }} She later enrolled at New York University and transferred to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and studied Asian languages and cultures.

Liu became interested in acting as a child, after hearing about someone her own age who had been in a television commercial.{{cite news |last=Emine |first=Saner |title='When I sense something is not right, I am going to protect myself' – Lucy Liu on success, shame and calling out Bill Murray |work=The Guardian |issn=1756-3224 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jan/13/when-i-sense-something-is-not-right-i-am-going-to-protect-myself-lucy-liu-on-success-shame-and-calling-out-bill-murray?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other |access-date=2025-01-13}} At the age of 19 she was discovered by an agent while traveling on the subway, and appeared in one commercial as a result.{{cite web |title=Lucy Liu in the Hot Seat |date=June 18, 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiE_UHkFiqc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/OiE_UHkFiqc |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube |access-date=December 10, 2018}}{{cbignore}} As a member of the Basement Arts student-run theater group,{{cite web |title=Before You Graduate The Basement await |url=http://www.umich.edu/~umalumni/e-newsletters/e-TrueBlueSenior022003.html |work=e-TrueBlue: Seniors, The e-newsletter for U-M seniors |publisher=Alumni Association – University of Michigan |date=February 20, 2003 |access-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124709/http://www.umich.edu/~umalumni/e-newsletters/e-TrueBlueSenior022003.html |url-status=live }} she auditioned in 1989 for the University of Michigan's production of Alice in Wonderland during her senior year of college. Although she had originally tried out for only a supporting role,{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Sheila |title=Lucy Liu Interview, CodeName The Cleaner |publisher=Movies Online |date=December 21, 2006 |url=http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_10807.html |access-date=December 21, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106023037/http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_10807.html |archive-date=January 6, 2007 |url-status=dead}} Liu was cast in the lead. While in line to audition for the musical Miss Saigon in 1990, she told The New York Times, "There aren't many Asian roles, and it's very difficult to get your foot in the door."{{cite news |last=Rothstein |first=Mervyn |date=October 2, 1990 |title=Scores of Actors Flock to Tryouts For Ethnic Roles in 'Miss Saigon' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/02/theater/scores-of-actors-flock-to-tryouts-for-ethnic-roles-in-miss-saigon.html |access-date=July 22, 2012 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417215221/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/02/theater/scores-of-actors-flock-to-tryouts-for-ethnic-roles-in-miss-saigon.html |url-status=live }} In May 1992, Liu made her New York stage debut in Fairy Bones, directed by Tina Chen.{{cite news |author=Mel Gussow |date=May 11, 1992 |title=Review/Theatre: Outwitting a Variety of Demons |newspaper=The New York Times |page=C11 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/11/theater/review-theater-outwitting-a-variety-of-demons.html |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-date=April 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419211359/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/11/theater/review-theater-outwitting-a-variety-of-demons.html |url-status=live }}

Liu had small roles in films and TV, marking her debut. In 1992, she made her big-screen debut in the Hong Kong film Rhythm of Destiny, which starred Danny Lee and Aaron Kwok.{{cite web |url=https://www.elitereaders.net/10-actors-we-didnt-recognize-in-their-first-movies/ |title=10 Actors We Didn't Recognize In Their First Movies |date=October 11, 2018 |publisher=Elite Readers |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803232052/https://www.elitereaders.net/10-actors-we-didnt-recognize-in-their-first-movies/ |url-status=dead }} In 1993, she appeared in an episode of L.A. Law as a Chinese widow giving her evidence in Mandarin."Co-Respondent", Season 8, Episode 4 Liu co-starred on the Rhea Perlman sitcom Pearl, which lasted one season. Shortly after the end of Pearl's run in 1997, Liu was cast in a role on Ally McBeal. Liu originally auditioned for the role of Nelle Porter (played by Portia de Rossi), and the character Ling Woo was later created specifically for her. Liu's part on the series was originally temporary, but high audience ratings secured Liu as a permanent cast member. Additionally, she earned a Primetime Emmy Award{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/lucy-liu |title=Lucy Liu Emmy Award Winner |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=April 9, 2013 |archive-date=May 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529132822/http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/lucy-liu |url-status=live }} nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series.

File:Lucy Liu @ USAID Human Trafficking Symposium 01 (cropped).jpgIn 2000, Liu starred in Charlie's Angels along with Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz. In 2001, Liu was the spokeswoman for the Lee National Denim Day fundraiser, which raises money for breast cancer research and education.Frontline Newsletter. Fall 2001. "Actress Lucy Liu (Ling Woo—TV's Ally McBeal), served as spokeswoman for the 2001 Lee National Denim Day®, the world's largest single-day fundraiser for breast cancer. The one-day event was not just about raising funds, though—it was also about raising awareness." In 2004 Liu was appointed an ambassador for U.S. Fund for UNICEF.{{cite web |title=UNICEF |url=http://www.unicefusa.org/partners/ambassadors/lucy-liu.html |access-date=February 1, 2013 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413140357/http://www.unicefusa.org/partners/ambassadors/lucy-liu.html |url-status=live }} She traveled to Pakistan and Lesotho, among several other countries. In 2002, Liu played Rita Foster in Vincenzo Natali's Brainstorm. She appeared as O-Ren Ishii in Quentin Tarantino's 2003 film, Kill Bill. While in negotiations for Kill Bill with Tarantino the two joined to help produce the Hungarian sports documentary Freedom's Fury.{{cite news |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1068204.html |title=Hungary: New Film Revisits 1956 Water-Polo Showdown |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=February 2, 2012 |last1=Krastev |first1=Nikola |access-date=February 15, 2019 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331210037/https://www.rferl.org/a/1068204.html |url-status=live }} She won an MTV Award for Best Movie Villain for her part in Kill Bill. Subsequently, Liu appeared on several episodes of Joey with Matt LeBlanc, who played her love interest in the Charlie's Angels films. She also had minor roles as Kitty Baxter in the film Chicago and as a psychologist opposite Keira Knightley in the thriller Domino. In Lucky Number Slevin, she played the leading love interest to Josh Hartnett. 3 Needles was released on December 1, 2006, Liu portrayed Jin Ping, an HIV-positive Chinese woman.{{cite news |title=Liu Shocked by Ridiculous Chinese AIDS 'Cures' |publisher=Contact Music |date=November 29, 2006 |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/liu%20shocked%20by%20ridiculous%20chinese%20aids%20cures_1014964 |access-date=November 29, 2006 |archive-date=January 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113002216/http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/liu%20shocked%20by%20ridiculous%20chinese%20aids%20cures_1014964 |url-status=live }}

Liu had previously presented her artwork under her Chinese name, Yu Ling.{{cite news |last=Rosenberg |first=Karen |date=March 6, 2009 |title=Toplessness and Taxidermy in a Bottoming Market |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/07/arts/design/07armo.html |access-date=December 6, 2019 |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129191708/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/07/arts/design/07armo.html |url-status=live }} Liu, who is an artist in several media, has had several gallery shows showcasing her collage, paintings, and photography.{{cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Reed |date=May 1, 2006 |title=Painting By Numbers With Lucy Liu |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a1303/esq0506lucyliu-124/ |magazine=Esquire |access-date=December 6, 2019 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803124031/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a1303/esq0506lucyliu-124/ |url-status=live }} She began doing collage mixed media when she was 16 years old, and became a photographer and painter.Live with Regis and Kelly. First aired on January 21, 2008. Liu attended the New York Studio School for drawing, painting, and sculpture from 2004 to 2006.{{cite web |title=Acting out her art – CAN life be any more unfair?, January 24, 2008. |url=http://www.gg-art.com/news/read.php?newsid=6434 |access-date=May 21, 2013 |publisher=gg-art.com |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803172439/http://www.gg-art.com/news/read.php?newsid=6434 |url-status=dead }} In September 2006, Liu held an art show and donated her share of the profits to UNICEF.{{cite web |title=Auction of Lucy Liu's Artwork Raises More Than $330,000, October 17, 2006. |url=http://www.mcmurry.com/about/about_news_release.asp?contentid=4741 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061126173246/http://www.mcmurry.com/about/about_news_release.asp?contentid=4741 |archive-date=November 26, 2006 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |publisher=Mcmurry.com}} She also had another show in 2008 in Munich. Her painting, "Escape", was incorporated into Montblanc's Cutting Edge Art Collection and was shown during Art Basel Miami 2008, which showed works by contemporary American artists. Liu has stated that she donated her share of the profits from the NYC Milk Gallery gallery show to UNICEF.{{cite web |title=Custom Content Council |url=http://www.customcontentcouncil.com/news/auction-lucy-lius-artwork-raises-more-330000 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124000/http://www.customcontentcouncil.com/news/auction-lucy-lius-artwork-raises-more-330000 |archive-date=April 13, 2014}} In London, a portion of the proceeds from her book Seventy Two went to UNICEF.

Early in 2006, Liu received an "Asian Excellence Award" for Visibility.[http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/163-lucy-liu "Lucy Liu Charity Work, Events and Causes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726110234/http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/163-lucy-liu |date=July 26, 2012 }}. looktothestars.org. She also hosted an MTV documentary, Traffic, for the MTV EXIT campaign in 2007. In 2008, she produced and narrated the short film The Road to Traffik, about the Cambodian author and human rights advocate Somaly Mam. The film was directed by Kerry Girvin and co-produced by photographer Norman Jean Roy. This led to a partnership with producers on the documentary film Redlight.{{cite web |title=Redlight The Movie Website |url=http://www.redlightthemovie.com/credits.html |access-date=April 9, 2013 |archive-date=April 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402085314/http://www.redlightthemovie.com/credits.html |url-status=live }}{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_7uuFasVcc |title=Traffic: An MTV EXIT Special presented by Lucy Liu — Part 1 |date=November 26, 2007 |people=Lucy Liu |publisher=Hulu |access-date=July 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/R_7uuFasVcc |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live |quote=MTV EXIT Documentary presented by Lucy Liu to raise awareness of human trafficking. Log on to www.mtvexit.org for more information. This program is produced rights-free and can be used by any broadcaster, website, organisation, or individual.}}{{cbignore}}

In 2007, Liu appeared in Code Name: The Cleaner; Rise: Blood Hunter, a supernatural thriller co-starring Michael Chiklis in which Liu plays an undead reporter (for which she was ranked number 41 on "Top 50 Sexiest Vampires");{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/lifestyle/sexy-vampires/?cur=sadie-blake&morepics=1 |title=Latest Men's Lifestyle Stories |publisher=UGO.com |access-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319034358/http://www.ugo.com/lifestyle/sexy-vampires/?cur=sadie-blake&morepics=1 |archive-date=March 19, 2009}} and Watching the Detectives, an independent romantic comedy co-starring Cillian Murphy. She also planned to make her producing debut and star in a remake of Charlie Chan, which had been planned as early as 2000. In 2007 Empire named Liu number 96 of their "100 Sexiest Movie Stars".{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/100sexiest/default.asp?star=96 |title=EimpireOnline.com EmpireOnline.com, 100 Sexiest Movie Stars |work=Empire |access-date=March 8, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826202654/http://www.empireonline.com/100sexiest/default.asp?star=96 |archive-date=August 26, 2011}} The producers of Dirty Sexy Money created a role for Liu as a series regular. Liu played Nola Lyons, a powerful attorney who faced Nick George (Peter Krause).[http://www.asianweek.com/2008/09/04/lucy-liu-talks-dirty/ "Lucy Liu Talks Dirty"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915050856/http://www.asianweek.com/2008/09/04/lucy-liu-talks-dirty/ |date=September 15, 2008 }}. AsianWeek. Retrieved September 8, 2008. Liu voiced Silvermist in Disney Fairies and Viper in Kung Fu Panda.

In March 2010, Liu made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award–winning play God of Carnage as Annette on the second replacement cast alongside Jeff Daniels, Janet McTeer, and Dylan Baker.{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Kramer |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/2010-01-27-lucy-liu_N.htm |title=Lucy Liu set for Broadway's 'God of Carnage' |newspaper=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |date=January 27, 2010 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107191618/http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/2010-01-27-lucy-liu_N.htm |url-status=live }} Liu is a supporter of marriage equality for same-sex marriage, and became a spokeswoman for the Human Rights Campaign in 2011.[http://www.hrc.org/videos/category/c/videos-lucy-liu-for-hrcs-new-yorkers-for-marriage-equality Liu profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725010753/http://www.hrc.org/videos/category/c//videos-lucy-liu-for-hrcs-new-yorkers-for-marriage-equality |date=July 25, 2012 }}, HRC.com. Retrieved October 20, 2014. She has teamed up with Heinz to combat the widespread global health threat of iron deficiency anemia and vitamin and mineral malnutrition among infants and children in the developing world.{{cite web |title=Heinz Micronutrient Campaign |url=http://www.heinz.com/sustainability/heinz-micronutrient-campaign.aspx |access-date=July 22, 2012 |publisher=Heinz Company |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014093519/https://www.heinz.com/sustainability/heinz-micronutrient-campaign.aspx |url-status=dead }}

File:Lucy Liu SDCC 2012 (7588312808).jpg|199x199px]]

In March 2012, she was cast as Joan Watson for Elementary. Elementary is an American Sherlock Holmes adaptation, and the role Liu was offered is traditionally played by men.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/02/27/lucy-liu-cast-as-watson-in-sherlock-holmes-based-pilot/ |title=Lucy Liu cast as Watson in Sherlock Holmes–based pilot |first=Sandra |last=Gonzalez |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 27, 2012 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206163132/https://ew.com/article/2012/02/27/lucy-liu-cast-as-watson-in-sherlock-holmes-based-pilot/ |url-status=live }} She has gained praise for her role as Watson, including three consecutive nominations for the People's Choice Awards for Favorite TV Crime Drama Actress. She also has played police officer Jessica Tang on Southland, a television show focusing on the lives of police officers and detectives in Los Angeles, as a recurring guest actor during the fourth season.{{cite web |last1=Furlong |first1=Maggie |title='Southland' Scoop: Which Cop Is Not Coming Back? |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/southland-lucy-liu_n_1302568 |website=HuffPost |access-date=December 6, 2019 |date=February 27, 2012 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804015327/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/southland-lucy-liu_n_1302568 |url-status=live }} She received the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Guest Actress for this role.{{cite web |title=Critics' Choice TV Awards 2012: 'Homeland' Wins Best Drama, 'Community' Nabs Best Comedy |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/critics-choice-awards-homeland-community-338834?page=2 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |author=Alex Ben Block |date=June 18, 2012 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |archive-date=October 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028054126/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/critics-choice-awards-homeland-community-338834?page=2 |url-status=live }} Liu's other directorial credits include 6 episodes of Elementary, an episode of Graceland,{{cite news |last=Stanhope |first=Kate |date=July 30, 2015 |title='Graceland' First Look: Lucy Liu Steps Behind the Camera (Exclusive) |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/graceland-lucy-liu-directs-first-812016 |access-date=September 12, 2017 |archive-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822221302/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/graceland-lucy-liu-directs-first-812016 |url-status=live }} the episode "Dearly Beloved" of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and the second-season premiere of Luke Cage.{{cite news |last=Cheng |first=Susan |date=July 11, 2017 |title=Lucy Liu Is Directing The 'Luke Cage' Season 2 Premiere |work=BuzzFeed |location=New York City |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/susancheng/lucy-liu-directing-luke-cage |access-date=September 12, 2017 |archive-date=July 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712011229/https://www.buzzfeed.com/susancheng/lucy-liu-directing-luke-cage |url-status=live }}

In August 2011, Liu became a narrator for the musical group The Bullitts.{{cite web |title=About The Bullitts |url=http://www.thebullitts.com/about.html |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723235650/http://www.thebullitts.com/about.html |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last1=Wete |first1=Brad |title=Actress Lucy Liu performs (well, narrates) with UK group The Bullitts: Watch here |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/08/04/lucy-liu-performs-the-bullitts/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=December 6, 2019 |date=August 4, 2011 |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206163129/https://ew.com/article/2011/08/04/lucy-liu-performs-the-bullitts/ |url-status=live }} In 2013, Liu was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2013/20130628.html |title=Latest Academy News |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |date=September 10, 2014 |access-date=August 14, 2013 |archive-date=July 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701193455/http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2013/20130628.html |url-status=live }} Liu was named Harvard's 2016 Artist of the Year. She was awarded the Harvard Foundation's arts medal at the annual Harvard Foundation Award ceremony, during the Cultural Rhythms Festival in Sanders Theatre. She is also part of the cast in the post-apocalyptic thriller Future World, directed by James Franco and Bruce Thierry Cheung.{{cite web |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=Lucy Liu, Snoop Dogg Join James Franco's 'Future World' |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/lucy-liu-snoop-dogg-james-franco-future-world-1201779260/ |website=Variety |date=May 19, 2016 |access-date=July 30, 2016 |archive-date=August 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827075412/https://variety.com/2016/film/news/lucy-liu-snoop-dogg-james-franco-future-world-1201779260/ |url-status=live }} Her first national museum exhibition was held at the National Museum of Singapore in early 2019{{Cite web |date=February 8, 2019 |title=Interview: Lucy Liu on art, acting and identity |url=https://www.silverkris.com/interview-lucy-liu-art-acting-identity/ |access-date=February 19, 2019 |website=SilverKris |language=en-GB |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030195630/https://www.silverkris.com/interview-lucy-liu-art-acting-identity/ |url-status=live }} and was titled "Unhomed Belongings."{{Cite web |last=Silvis |first=John |title=Lucy Liu on making art to find a sense of belonging |url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/lucy-liu-artsy/index.html |access-date=January 19, 2020 |publisher=CNN |date=November 29, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=January 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118170539/https://www.cnn.com/style/article/lucy-liu-artsy/index.html |url-status=live }}

In April 2021, Liu was cast as the villainess Kalypso in the superhero film Shazam! Fury of the Gods.{{cite web |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |title=Lucy Liu Joins Helen Mirren in 'Shazam!' Sequel |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lucy-liu-joins-helen-mirren-in-shazam-sequel |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 12, 2021 |access-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412170414/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lucy-liu-joins-helen-mirren-in-shazam-sequel |url-status=live }} In 2022, she voiced the role of Callisto Mal in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Strange World.{{Cite web |last1=Croll |first1=Ben |date=June 17, 2022 |title=Jake Gyllenhaal Joined by Dennis Quaid, Lucy Liu, Gabrielle Union in Disney's 'Strange World' |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/strange-world-jennifer-lee-baymax-zootopia-1235297289/ |access-date=June 17, 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707114734/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/strange-world-jennifer-lee-baymax-zootopia-1235297289/ |url-status=live }} In 2024, she starred in Steven Soderbergh's psychological thriller film Presence and Jake Kasdan's Christmas action comedy film Red One.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/dwayne-johnson-chris-evans-lucy-liu-red-one-amazon-1235142902/ |title=Lucy Liu To Star Opposite Dwayne Johnson & Chris Evans In Prime Video's Holiday Pic 'Red One' |date=October 12, 2022 |publisher=Deadline |access-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024213705/https://deadline.com/2022/10/dwayne-johnson-chris-evans-lucy-liu-red-one-amazon-1235142902/ |url-status=live }}

In 2025, Liu will star and produce in Rosemead as a mother diagnosed with a terminal illness who has a troubled child.{{Cite magazine |first=Lauren |last=Geall |title=Lucy Liu's latest film is based on this harrowing true story |url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/entertainment/film/lucy-liu-rosemead-true-story-la-times-a-dying-mothers-plan-plot-cast-trailer-release-date/425756 |access-date=2024-10-05 |date=2020 |magazine=Stylist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919000038/https://www.stylist.co.uk/entertainment/film/lucy-liu-rosemead-true-story-la-times-a-dying-mothers-plan-plot-cast-trailer-release-date/425756 |archive-date=September 19, 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=2024-05-02 |title=Lucy Liu on Why She Spent Five Years Bringing 'Rosemead' to the Big Screen: 'Even if One Person Sees It, That's All That Matters' |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/actors/lucy-liu-on-rosemead-painting-and-asian-representation-gold-house-1235989797/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} It will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival in June 2025.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/tribeca-festival-2025-lineup-movies-1236369631/|title=Tribeca Festival Unveils 2025 Film Lineup With Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Bryan Cranston & 'How To Train Your Dragon'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Jill|last=Goldsmith|date=April 16, 2025|access-date=April 20, 2025}}

Liu has been vegetarian since childhood.[https://web.archive.org/web/20230125123302/https://asianjournalusa.com/lucy-liu-award-winning-actress-and-vegetarian/ "Lucy Liu: Award-Winning Actress And Vegetarian"]. asianjournalusa.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.[https://web.archive.org/web/20230125122844/https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/health/g38105742/lucy-liu-health-habits/ "Lucy Liu's Fitness Routine and Wellness Habits Aren't Crazy Tough"]. womenshealthmag.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023. Liu has studied various religions, mainly Buddhism and Taoism, and briefly Kabbalah. She has stated, "I'm into all things spiritual—anything to do with meditation or chants or any of that stuff. I studied Chinese philosophy in school. There's something in the metaphysical that I find very fascinating." She has been a member of the Chinese-American organization Committee of 100 since 2004.[https://web.archive.org/web/20170803164621/https://committee100.org/aboutus/member_bio.php?member_id=272 Lucy Liu profile]

She has a son, Rockwell, who was born in 2015 via gestational surrogate.{{Cite web |last=Mauch |first=Ally |date=August 29, 2020 |title=Lucy Liu Celebrates Son Rockwell's 5th Birthday with Rare Photo: 'He Is a Rainbow of Light' |url=https://people.com/parents/lucy-liu-celebrates-sons-5th-birthday/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=People |language=en |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127002751/https://people.com/parents/lucy-liu-celebrates-sons-5th-birthday/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Takeda |first1=Allison |title=Lucy Liu Welcomes Son Rockwell Lloyd Liu Via Gestational Surrogate: First Picture |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/lucy-liu-welcomes-baby-son-via-gestational-surrogate-first-picture-2015278 |date=August 27, 2015 |access-date=August 27, 2015 |archive-date=August 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829091716/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/lucy-liu-welcomes-baby-son-via-gestational-surrogate-first-picture-2015278/ |url-status=live }} She has stated that surrogacy was the right option for her because, "I was working and I didn't know when I was going to be able to stop."{{Cite news |work=People |url=https://people.com/parents/lucy-liu-gestational-surrogate-son-rockwell/ |title=Why Lucy Liu Chose Gestational Surrogacy: It Was the 'Best Solution for Me' |date=May 6, 2016 |access-date=September 30, 2018 |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930231437/https://people.com/parents/lucy-liu-gestational-surrogate-son-rockwell/ |url-status=live }} She has decided to raise him as a single parent.{{Cite web |last=Abrahamson |first=Rachel Paula |date=2022-07-15 |title=Lucy Liu reveals for the first time the meaning behind her son's name |url=https://www.today.com/parents/moms/lucy-liu-shares-meaning-son-rockwells-name-rcna38399 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Today |language=en |archive-date=September 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923022551/https://www.today.com/parents/moms/lucy-liu-shares-meaning-son-rockwells-name-rcna38399 |url-status=live }} She was involved in Tylenol's #HowWeFamily Mother's Day Campaign, which celebrated non-traditional families.{{Cite web |title=Tylenol Celebrates An Inclusive Mother's Day With #HowWeFamily Ad |url=http://www.newnownext.com/tylenol-celebrates-an-inclusive-mothers-day-with-howwefamily-ad/05/2016/ |access-date=May 6, 2017 |archive-date=August 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829093209/http://www.newnownext.com/tylenol-celebrates-an-inclusive-mothers-day-with-howwefamily-ad/05/2016/ |first=Dan |last=Avery |website=NewNowNext |date=May 7, 2016}}

In 1991, Liu had surgery after a breast cancer scare. She said: "The doctor sort of felt and said it was cancer and it needs to come out. I went into shell-shock. It was pretty traumatizing." The lump was removed two days after the doctor's examination and was found to be benign.{{cite news |url=http://news.sky.com/story/52073/lucy-lius-breast-cancer-scare |date=August 23, 2001 |title=Lucy Liu's Breast Cancer Scare |access-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-date=October 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012002351/http://news.sky.com/story/52073/lucy-lius-breast-cancer-scare |url-status=live }}

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• Chinese Americans in New York City

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Category:1968 births

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Category:People from Jackson Heights, Queens

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