Lucy Liu

American actress, Lucy Liu, was born in Queens, New York, on December 2,1968. She was raised in Jackson Heights by her parents, a bio-chemist and a civil engineer. She grew up speaking both Mandarin and English. After high school she went to New York University for a year, but transferred to the University of Michigan, where she studied acting, singing, and dancing. She graduated from University of Michigan with a degree in Asian Languages and Cultures. She was introduced to the television audience in 1991 on ‘Beverly Hills 90210’(1991). She kept working on guest spots and on movies until her breakout role. Ling Woo, was written for her on ‘Ally McBeal’(1998). Playing Ling Woo helped push her into bigger movie projects with actors like Mel Gibson, Clint Eastwood, and Woody Harrelson. In 2000 she picked up the major movies ‘Shanghai Noon’(2000), and ‘Charlies Angels’(2000), earning her screen time with Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Drew Barrymore, and Cameron Diaz. She spent most of the decade doing guest spots on television, or feature films, but in 2011 she started her return to television. In 2011 she came back with a voice on ’Kung Fu Panda’(2011) and ‘Southland’(2012). Also in 2012, she started the main cast spot as Joan Watson, a variation of the classic sidekick Dr. John Watson, on ’Elementary’(2012).