Lucy Liu is an American actress, director, and producer. She was born on December 2, 1968, in Queens, New York, to Chinese immigrants. Liu first gained fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s for her roles in several successful television shows and movies.

Liu began her acting career in the early 1990s, appearing in small roles in film and television. In 1997, she landed her breakthrough role on the television series "Ally McBeal," playing the character Ling Woo. The role earned Liu an Emmy nomination and helped launch her career.

Liu went on to star in several successful movies, including "Charlie's Angels" (2000), "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" (2003), and "Chicago" (2002), which earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. She has also appeared in several television shows, including "Elementary," "Southland," and "Futurama."

In addition to her acting work, Liu has also directed several episodes of television, including episodes of "Elementary," "Graceland," and "Marvel's Luke Cage." She has also produced several projects, including the documentary "Meena," which focuses on human trafficking in India.

Throughout her career, Liu has been recognized for her work with numerous awards and nominations. She has also been an advocate for several charitable causes, including UNICEF, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.