Lucy Liu is a popular American model and actress. She is also a film producer and a director who came from the Chinese lineage. She was born on December 2, 1968 at Jackson Heights in
New York
to Cecilia and Tom Liu. She got her middle name, Alexis while she’s in high school. Her parents was originally from Beijing and Shanghai and the two just met in New York. She grew up in a diversified community. She learnt Mandarin language at home and studies English at the age of 5. She studied at Joseph Pulitzer Middle School and in 1986, she graduated at Stuyvesant High School.
Subsequently, she attended New York University and went to the University of Michigan where she became a Chi Omega sorority member. She earns a degree in Asian languages and cultures. Lucy initially worked as a waitress from 1988 to 1989.
Lucy was spotted by an agent when she was 19-years old wandering on the subway. She did one commercial and later auditioned for the production of Alice in Wonderland while in college. Although Lucy had auditioned for a supporting role, she was cast in the main role. In 1992, she made her debut in the New York stage through Tina Chen’s Fairy Bones. The actress has done small roles in television and films. She appeared in The X-Files’ episode, Hell Money and also in The March to Freedom, the 8th episode of the television series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys before she played the role of Ling Woo in the very popular legal comedy-drama series, Ally McBeal. Initially, she auditioned for Nelle Porter’s character but her current role had been made specifically for her. She was supposedly appeared in the show temporarily but due to the positive feedbacks from the audience, she became a permanent cast. Lucy received nominations at the Primetime Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for doing her role successfully. In 1999, he bagged the role of Pearl, a prostitute associated to the Chinese Mafia in the crime film, Payback.
Lucy was also one of the Charlie’s Angels. She essayed the role of Alex Munday along with Dylan Sanders (played by
Drew Barrymore
) and Natalie Cook (played by
Cameron Diaz
). The film became a box-office success and grossed over $125-Million in U.S. and $264-Million worldwide. She portrayed the same character in the Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle in 2003. The film is also a box-office hit and grossed $100-Million in U.S. and $259-Million worldwide. She was also featured as Agent Sever in the action-thriller film, Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever along with
Antonio Banderas
in 2002.
Lucy also hosted the late night show,
Saturday Night Live
in 2000. She also acted in two episodes of the comedy drama series,
Ugly Betty
. In 2001, she did a guest appearance as herself in the episode, Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda of the romantic sitcom, Sex and the City. Lucy was starred as Mia Mason in the comedy drama show inspired by Sex and the City, Cashmere Mafia. She had done cameo appearance in the adult animated sitcoms, Futurama and
The Simpsons
. In 2002, she bagged the role of Rita Foster in Brainstorm. Shortly after, she acted as O-Ren Ishii in the martial arts film, Kill Bill which stars
Uma Thurman
. Lucy got the Best Movie Villain award at the MTV Award for her role in the film. Afterwards, she appeared in many episodes of the sitcom, Joey. She also did films like Chicago and Domino bagging minor roles. She was seen as Lindsey in the crime mafia film, Lucky Number Slevin opposite with Slevin Kelevra (played by
Josh Hartnett
). The actress also played as a Chinese HIV positive in the 2005 film, 3 Needles.
In year 2007, Lucy played the role of a undead reporter in the action-comedy film, Code Name: The Cleaner from which she got the 41st place on being one of the ‘Top 50 Sexiest Vampires’. She also played as Violet, a femme fatale in the romantic comedy film, Watching the Detectives. Lucy made her debut on being a producer in the remake of the film, Charlie Chan. She was also ranked in the 96th place on being one of the ‘100 Sexiest Movie Stars’. From 2008 to 2009, she bagged the role of Nola Lyons in the prime time drama series, Dirty Sexy Money. She also voiced the Silvermist’s character in Disney Fairies and voiced Viper’s character in Kung Fu Panda.
She made her debut in the Broadway through the play, god of Carnage. In 2012, she played as Dr. Joan Watson in the crime drama series, Elementary and acted as a police officer in the drama series, Southland where she won the Best Drama Guest Actress at the Critics’ Choice Television Award. Lucy is also the narrator of The Bullitts.
Besides acting and producing, Lucy is also an artist who has done various gallery shows displaying her collage, photography, paintings and more.