The character of Ling Woo on the series Ally McBeal was created specifically for Lucy Liu after she auditioned for a different role on the show. Born in 1968 in Jackson Heights, New York, she established an expansive career spanning film, television, and visual arts while maintaining a commitment to international humanitarian work through UNICEF.
Education and Early Career
Liu attended I.S. 145 Joseph Pulitzer and graduated from Stuyvesant High School. She later attended New York University before transferring to the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Asian languages and cultures in 1990. While a student, she performed with the Basement Arts group. Her early professional experience included a debut in the 1992 Hong Kong film Rhythm of Destiny and stage work in the 1992 production Fairy Bones.
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Following her tenure on Ally McBeal from 1998 to 2002, Liu moved into major film projects. She starred in Charlie's Angels in 2000 and its 2003 sequel, as well as the Kill Bill films. Her filmography includes Payback, Shanghai Noon, Chicago, Lucky Number Slevin, Watching the Detectives, The Man with the Iron Fists, Set It Up, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and Presence. On television, she led the CBS crime drama Elementary from 2012 to 2019 and appeared in Why Women Kill. She has also provided voice acting for the Kung Fu Panda series, the Tinker Bell films, and Mulan II.
Visual Arts and Advocacy
Liu practices as a painter, sculptor, and photographer. She studied drawing, painting, and sculpture at the New York Studio School between 2004 and 2006. Her artwork has been displayed in galleries in New York and Munich, with pieces included in the Montblanc Cutting Edge Art Collection. Her advocacy work includes serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, a role that saw her travel to countries including Pakistan and Lesotho. She is a member of the Committee of 100.
Fast facts
- Born: 1968, Jackson Heights
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: University of Michigan
- Languages spoken: English, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin
- Awards: MTV Movie Award for Best Villain (2004)
- Notable honor: Hungarian Order of Merit
- Hollywood Walk of Fame: Received star
Questions readers ask
What languages does Lucy Liu speak?
She is proficient in English, Italian, Japanese, and Mandarin.
Did Lucy Liu study art?
Yes, she attended the New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture between 2004 and 2006.
Achievements
- Hungarian Order of Merit
- Worked as television actor, film actor and voice actor
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