Mini Biography
Born to 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. Lucy's mother is from Beijing, and her father is from Shanghai. 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 "The X-Files" (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 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/I), 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.
Filmography
2012-2013 Elementary (TV series)
Dr. Joan Watson
2011-2013 Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (TV series)
Viper
2012 The Man with the Iron Fists
Madam Blossom
2012 Secret of the Wings
Silvermist (voice)
2012 Sleeping Dogs (Video Game)
Vivienne Lu (voice)
2012 Southland (TV series)
Officer Jessica Tang
2011 Pixie Hollow Games (TV movie)
Silvermist (voice)
2011 Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You
Life Coach
2011 Kung Fu Panda 2
Viper (voice)
2011 The Trouble with Bliss
Andrea
2011 Detachment
Dr. Doris Parker
2010 Marry Me (TV mini-series)
Rae Ann Carter
2010 Kung Fu Panda Holiday (TV short)
Viper (voice)
2010 Nomads
Susan
2010 Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (video)
Silvermist (voice)
2009 Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Silvermist (voice)
2008-2009 Dirty Sexy Money (TV series)
Nola Lyons
2009 Afro Samurai: Resurrection (TV movie)
Sio (voice: English version)
2008 Little Spirit: Christmas in New York (TV movie) (voice)
2008 Tinker Bell (video)
Silvermist (voice)
2008 Kung Fu Panda
Viper (voice)
2008 Cashmere Mafia (TV series)
Mia Mason
2008 The Year of Getting to Know Us
Anne
2007 Watching the Detectives
Violet
2007 Rise: Blood Hunter
Sadie Blake
2007 Ugly Betty (TV series)
Grace Chin
2007 Code Name: The Cleaner
Gina
2006 Lucky Number Slevin
Lindsey
2005 Domino
Taryn Mills
2005 3 Needles
Jin Ping, the Blood Smuggler
2005 The Simpsons (TV series)
Madam Wu
2004-2005 Joey (TV series)
Lauren Beck
2004 Mulan II (video)
Mei (voice)
2004 Maya & Miguel (TV series)
Maggie Lee
2004 Kill Bill: Vol. 2
O-Ren Ishii
2004 Game Over (TV series)
Raquel Smashenburn (voice)
2004 Jackie Chan Adventures (TV series)
Adult Jade
2003 Kill Bill: Vol. 1
O-Ren Ishii
2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
Alex Munday
2002 Chicago
Kitty Baxter
2002 King of the Hill (TV series)
Tid Pao
2002 Cypher
Rita Foster
2002 Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever
Sever
1998-2002 Ally McBeal (TV series)
Ling Woo
2001 SSX Tricky (Video Game)
Elise Riggs (voice)
2001 Hotel
Kawika
2000 Charlie's Angels
Alex Munday
2000 Shanghai Noon
Princess Pei Pei
1999 Play It to the Bone
Lia
1999 Love Kills
Kashi
1999 The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human
The Female's Friend (Lydia)
1999 Molly
Brenda
1999 Flypaper
Dot (as Lucy Alexis Liu)
1999 True Crime
Toy Shop Girl (as Lucy Alexis Liu)
1999/I Payback
Pearl (as Lucy Alexis Liu)
1997 Guy
Woman at Newstand (as Lucy Lui)
1997 Michael Hayes (TV series)
Alice Woo
1997 Dellaventura (TV series)
Yuling Chong
1996-1997 Pearl (TV series)
Amy Li
1997 Riot (TV movie)
Tiffany (segment "Empty")
1997 NYPD Blue (TV series)
Amy Chu
1997 The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (TV series)
Melana
1997 City of Industry
Cathi Rose (as Lucy Alexis Liu)
1997 Gridlock'd
Cee-Cee (as Lucy Alexis Liu)
1996 Jerry Maguire
Former Girlfriend (as Lucy Alexis Liu)
1996 High Incident (TV series)
Officer Whin
1996 Nash Bridges (TV series)
Joy Powell
1996 The X-Files (TV series)
Kim Hsin
1995 ER (TV series)
Mei-Sun Leow
1995 Bang
Hooker (as Lucy Lui)
1995 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV series)
Oi-Lan
1995 Home Improvement (TV series)
Woman #3
1994 Coach (TV series)
Nicole Wong
1994 Hotel Malibu (TV series)
Co-Worker
1993 L.A. Law (TV series)
Mai Lin
1993 Protozoa (short)
Ari
1992 Rhythm of Destiny
Donna (as Lucy Alexis Liu)
1991 Beverly Hills, 90210 (TV series)
Courtney
