Lucy Liu (full name Lucy Alexis Liu) was born on December 2, 1968 and she is an Emmy Award nominated American actress of Chinese ancestry, best known for starring in the TV series Ally McBeal and the 2000 film Charlie's Angels. Lucy Liu's Chinese name is Liu Yuling
Biography and Career :
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.
Lucy 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.
Lucy Liu 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, Lucy 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.
Lucy Liu 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, Lucy Liu was cast as an ambitious college student on Rhea Perlman's ephemeral sitcom "Pearl" (1996).
Lucy 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). Lucy Liu then waded through a series of supporting parts in small films before landing her big break on "Ally McBeal" (1997).
Lucy 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 Lucy 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 Lucy Liu 's not hissing at clients or throwing well-coiffed punches, Lucy Liu keeps busy with an eclectic mix of off-screen hobbies. Lucy Liu practices the martial art of Kali-Eskrima-Silat (knife-and-stick fighting), skis, rock climbs, rides horses, and plays the accordion. In 1993 Lucy Liu 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. Lucy Liu's hectic schedule doesn't leave much time for romantic intrigue, but Liu says she prefers to keep that side of her life uncluttered.
Filmography :
The Cleaner (2006)
Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
The Simpsons (1989) (2006 guest appearance)
Domino (2005)
Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Chicago (2002)
Cypher (2002)
Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002)
Futurama (1999) (2001 guest appearance)
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Shanghai Noon (2000)
Play It to the Bone (1999)
The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human (1999)
Molly (1999)
True Crime (1999)
Payback (1999)
Love Kills (1998)
Flypaper (1997)
City of Industry (1997)
Gridlock'd (1997)
Guy (1996)
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Bang (1995)
Protozoa (1993)
External Links :
AskMen.com - Lucy Liu
Who Dated | Who's Dating Lucy Liu?
Lucy Liu Photos
