Nude Filmography:
>> Play it to the Bone (1999)
>> City of Industry (1997)
>> Flypaper (1997)
Mini 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 "X Files, The" (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 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 action flick
Payback (1999), 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'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.
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