Lucy Liu reflected on her long journey to her first major dramatic leading role with the film Rose Field.
The film, which she produced and starred in, tells the story of a Chinese immigrant dealing with her son’s schizophrenia.
Liu revealed that it took years to get the film made with the help of sixteen investors and even after shooting, finding a distributor was a challenge as studios focused on profits.
The star’s career included action hits Charlie’s angels And Kill Bill and popular TV shows such as Ally McBeal And Elementary.
Although these projects brought her fame, Liu described many of them as smaller roles that never fully tested her acting ability.
She also talked about the stereotypes that shaped her career, recalling being called a Dragon Lady for her role in the film Kill Billwhile other actresses who played similarly strong characters were never judged in the same way.
She said Hollywood often placed Asian actors in narrow categories, making it harder to get diverse roles.
After her early success, the 56-year-old actress had a quiet period with less substantial offers, as she turned down work she felt was disrespectful and noted that her appearance sometimes limited opportunities.
Rose Field marked a turning point for the icon, as the film was already earning festival awards and the actress said the role allowed her to finally show a side of herself that had long gone unseen.
Additionally, Lucy added that the experience reflected the ongoing challenges actors of color face in Hollywood, where talent often competes with outdated ideas of marketability.
