Lucy Liu on Art, Equity, and the Stories That Shape Us

What is one defining moment in your career or life that empowered you to create change, and how has it shaped the path you’re on today?

Portraying Ling Woo on Ally McBeal was a turning point in my career. At the time, the role was often described as groundbreaking. Looking back, it truly was. But what stayed with me wasn’t just the visibility; it was how rare it was to see a woman on screen who was unapologetically assertive, layered, and unwilling to conform to expectations. That experience helped clarify something essential: representation isn’t just about being present – it’s about the richness and complexity of how we’re portrayed. It also led me to reflect more deeply on my own identity. I had always identified, without much thought, as American. But, the conversations around Ling – especially the emphasis on her being a sharp, hyper-confident Asian woman – made me more aware of how race and gender get projected onto performance. It was both an opportunity and a reality check. The role gave me a chance to make a strong impression, but it also hinted at the ways my background – and even my appearance – might shape the roles I’d be considered for down the line.

As we look to the future, what is one key change or innovation you believe is essential for advancing equality and empowerment in your field?

Innovation isn’t just about technology – it’s about structure. We must create pathways for underrepresented voices not just to participate, but to lead. That means nurturing new forms of storytelling that challenge the dominant paradigms. Art thrives on diversity – it’s a mirror, and our industry must reflect that truth more courageously.

Who is a woman who has inspired or mentored you, and what lessons from her influence have stayed with you?

My mother has been a great influence on my life. She wasn’t perfect by any means, but when I reflect, she was courageous; She arrived in this country without speaking the language, worked tirelessly at multiple jobs, and raised three children with a quiet strength and a resilience that seemed endless. I learned the importance of perseverance and the dignity of maintaining grace under pressure. Her example has shown me that the strength to endure is often the very force that carries us through.

What is the legacy you hope to leave behind as a changemaker and leader in your industry?

I hope my legacy is one of fierce curiosity – that I encouraged others to take risks, to ask difficult questions, and to step into discomfort. Leadership is about listening as much as speaking. That’s where the magic happens.

In honor of Gloria Steinem’s 90 years of advocacy, what do you believe is her most enduring contribution to women’s empowerment, and how has it inspired your own journey?

Gloria Steinem’s lasting legacy lies in her early recognition that the fight for justice is not singular—it is braided across identities and bound by history. Long before the language of intersectionality took hold, she understood that true feminism must be extended to the realities of race, class, and culture. What moves me most is her belief that storytelling – rooted in witness, truth, and empathy – is not just art, but a form of resistance. She reminds us that the personal is not only political – it is the thread that connects us and the spark that can shift the world.

What does progress for women look like in your field, and what steps do you believe are necessary to keep that momentum going?

Progress for women in our industry looks like normalized equity, where it’s not revolutionary for stories to be categorized as “female-driven” – they’re just stories. Basically, it’s seeing diversity not as a trend, but as a norm. One thing to note is that progress is not a straight line—it’s iterative. But if we keep amplifying each other, we stop having to explain why we belong—and instead, we just are.