Lucy Liu was born to immigrant parents in New York City, where she has always strived to balance her cultural heritage with a desire to move beyond a strictly Asian-American experience. Her mother, Cecilia, a biochemist from Beijing, and her father, Tom Liu, a civil engineer from Shanghai, instilled in her a strong sense of identity and a passion for exploration.
After graduating from Stuyvesant High School in 1986, Liu enrolled in New York University, but she soon transferred to the University of Michigan, where she earned a degree in Asian Languages and Cultures. During her senior year, she landed the lead role in a production of Alice in Wonderland, which encouraged her to pursue a career in professional acting.
Liu moved to Los Angeles, where she split her time between auditions and food service day jobs. She eventually scored a guest appearance on the popular TV show Beverly Hills, 90210, which led to more walk-on parts in shows like NYPD Blue, ER, and The X-Files.
In 1996, Liu was cast as an ambitious college student on the short-lived sitcom Pearl, and she made her film debut in Jerry Maguire. She then appeared in a series of supporting roles in small films before landing her breakout role on the TV show Ally McBeal.
Liu's performance as the ill-tempered lawyer Ling Woo earned her a spot as a regular cast member, and it also gave her film career a much-needed boost. She went on to appear in films like Payback, Play It to the Bone, Shanghai Noon, and Charlie's Angels.
When she's not acting, Liu enjoys a variety of off-screen hobbies, including practicing the martial art of Kali-Eskrima-Silat, skiing, rock climbing, horseback riding, and playing the accordion. She has also exhibited her multimedia art pieces at the Cast Iron Gallery in SoHo and won a grant to study and create art in China.
Liu prefers to keep her personal life uncluttered, but she has spoken publicly about her passion for her work and her desire to continue exploring new roles and projects.
