As one of few Asian faces on TV and in film, Hollywood initially doubted Lucy Liu’s marketability. But with her star-making role in the late 90s David E. Kelley super-soap Ally McBeal, followed by the juggernaut that was 2000’s Charlie’s Angels, the actress established herself as a force to be reckoned with. In the twenty years since, despite the odds, she built an impressive portfolio, starring in numerous acclaimed productions, including a second Charlie’s Angels, two Kill Bill films, seven seasons of Elementary, and the phenomenally popular TV series Why Women Kill. In 2019, Hollywood honored Lucy Liu with a star on the Walk of Fame, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to the arts. She became the second Asian actress to receive this honor, following Anna May Wong, who received her star in 1960.

Despite the twelve-hour time difference between V China and Liu, she is right on time for our video call. She takes a moment to read out the names of our staff members—greeting them and expressing her gratitude and excitement for the collaboration—before moving on to a thoughtful discussion of her life and work.

In 2022, Liu was in Atlanta filming Red One, a family-friendly Christmas film about a global expedition to save Santa Claus, based on an original story by Hiram Garcia. After more than a year in production, the film is set to premiere this November. Suitable for all ages, this is the first time Liu has taken her son, Rockwell, to see one of her action films. “He just turned nine, and last year’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods was not suitable for him to watch,” Liu says, her expression brightening. “This time, as soon as the film ended, he said he wanted to watch it again. I was very happy.”

Liu tells V she had a delightful time with the Red One crew and her co-stars, Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans. “Being an actor means doing the same thing over and over to achieve the best shot, and having excellent partners makes the whole experience incredibly rewarding,” Liu says. “They’ve both starred in action films and have a great sense of humor, especially Chris. It was hard to keep a straight face while working with him.” She chuckles. “I’m looking forward to promoting the film with them after its release – it will be a lot of fun!”

During our conversation, we couldn’t help but notice all the beautiful art in Liu’s home. Since she was a teenager, painting has been an important and consistent part of her creative life. To ensure her acting career did not influence the reception of her visual artwork, Liu chose to release and sell her paintings under her Chinese name, Yu Ling, rather than Lucy Liu. Nonetheless, her artworks sold for tens of thousands of dollars, a testament to the work itself.

Though she started creating art at a very young age, it wasn’t until she seriously pursued painting and sculpture that she truly experienced the joys and struggles of artistic creation. “Painting brings me joy, but it can also be heartbreaking at times because it’s so challenging. I used to think my painting skills weren’t strong enough to express myself, but when I finally achieve a satisfying result, it’s like a thought or feeling has finally been released from my soul,” she says. “Painting has brought a sense of completion and fulfillment to my life.” A few years ago, Liu exhibited a found object series titled, One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other. Though it was incredibly well received, accepting praise has never been easy for the artist.

“I used to think I didn’t have this strength because my mother would always comment on my skin, my freckles… always some kind of criticism,” she reflects. “I used to feel like I couldn’t fit in because I didn’t look perfect—my skin wasn’t fair enough, my eyes were too small. I felt like I was in a black hole, and once I fell, I would keep falling. But then I realized, there were so many people supporting me. I feel very fortunate to have this support—it means a lot to me.”

When Lucy Liu rose to prominence as an Asian-American actress in Hollywood, she faced constant scrutiny over her looks and physique. Despite showcasing the diversity and vibrancy of beauty through numerous works over her long and esteemed career, those early controversies still persist. Though this topic may seem cliché, we couldn’t help but wonder how the now 55-year-old Lucy Liu perceives and maintains her own definition of beauty.

“With the rise of social media, the Internet is overflowing with beauty tips and anti-aging products, and people are almost obsessed with the pursuit of external beauty,” she says. Recalling her childhood, she mentioned that she was quite the tomboy, always too busy working to save money to worry about her looks. But she was always confident: “I’ve always been someone who values the inner self more. Appearance is not something I overly concern myself with. When I make friends, I care more about what’s inside.”

Many years ago, while living in California, Liu was introduced to rock climbing by a friend. They went to Malibu, where they climbed in an area filled with slippery reddish-brown rocks. To this day, what she remembers most vividly is her friend’s advice: “Don’t look down!”

“Indeed, ignorance is bliss,” she echoes. “Just like when I first entered this industry, I truly believed the whole world was wide open, waiting for me to explore and discover.” During the proverbial climb, she pushed herself but, naturally, problems emerged. Life, much like climbing, is a spiral ascent of continuously solving problems. “Challenges always come one after another, and no one is exempt. It forces you to look deep into yourself, and that can be quite unsettling,” Liu admits. 

An example of a struggle Liu willingly takes on is fair compensation for her roles. “I know that [filmmaking] is a business, but from a creator’s perspective, it truly nourishes my soul. It’s an electrifying passion that keeps me energized.” She also donates all of her earnings from her artwork to charity.

Even after more than three decades in the industry, Liu still holds high hopes for acting. She looks forward to exploring different stories and characters, with the enthusiasm to tell a good story always bubbling within her. Of course, she also carries a strong sense of mission to fight for equal rights for Asian actors. At the Walk of Fame ceremony in 2019, Liu referred to herself as an “outsider.” She feels that she has finally found her place among the stars, bridging the gap between the stereotypical roles played by her forebears and the more layered Asian characters in today’s media landscape. She is thrilled to be a part of this transformation.

The world around Liu is gradually improving. This Chinese girl, who once struggled to get by, is no longer easily deterred by issues relating to family, appearance, or gender. Instead, she continues to move forward and even aspires to grander accomplishments. “The way I understand ‘letting go’ is that it’s an ongoing process,” Liu says, smiling softly. “Life isn’t a blank sheet of paper. Letting go doesn’t mean erasing the past and making everything perfect again. As long as life continues, all feelings and thoughts will keep giving you different feedback, both good and bad, but that’s okay. That’s what growth is all about.”

This story appears in the pages of V CHINA November 2024 Issue

Presented By Lisa Lee, Stephen Gan

Creative Director & Executive Producer Stephen Gan

Photography Jack Bridgland

Fashion Anna Trevelyan

Makeup Kabuki

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Styling Assistants Niambi Moore, Aj Grove, Lucky Fischer

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Fashion Coordination Liv Vitale

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V CHINA Copyright Director Tony C.G 王

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