Lucy Liu's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Elementary Joan Watson Ally McBeal Ling Woo Cashmere Mafia Mia Mason The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest Melana Maya & Miguel Maggie Lee High Incident Officer Whin Pearl Amy Li Hotel Malibu Co-Worker

Main Movie Roles 2009 - Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure 2008 - Kung Fu Panda 2007 - Watching the Detectives 2007 - Code Name: The Cleaner 2006 - Lucky Number Slevin 2005 - Domino 2004 - My Date with Drew 2004 - Kill Bill Vol. 2 2003 - Kill Bill Vol. 1 2003 - Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle 2002 - Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever 2002 - Chicago 2002 - Cypher 2001 - Hotel 2000 - Shanghai Noon 2000 - Charlie's Angels 1999 - Payback 1999 - The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human 1999 - True Crime 1997 - City of Industry 1997 - Gridlock'd 1996 - Jerry Maguire

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 "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 (I) 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 (I) 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 (I)'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.


TRIVIA:

• One of the guests at 'Ashton Kutcher' (qv)'s and 'Demi Moore' (qv)'s wedding in 2005.
• Graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor with a degree in Asian languages and cultures.
• As her family spoke Mandarin Chinese at home, she did not learn English until the age of 5.
• She once worked as an aerobics instructor.
• Attended New York University for a year.
• Was the first Asian-American female to host _"Saturday Night Live" (1975)_ (qv).
• Was named a U.S. Fund for UNICEF Ambassador (2005).
• Is an initiated sister of Chi Omega Sorority.