Lucy Liu is a well-known American actress who rose to international stardom for her role in Charlie’s Angels. After being born to immigrant parents, she battled against Hollywood’s diversity problem to become a certified superstar. After guest spots on shows like Beverly Hills, 90210, she began to secure larger roles, and made a name for herself and now boasts a stellar filmography.

As her career progressed, Liu began to branch out in roles that would cement her status as a Hollywood icon, starring in Chicago and the Kill Bill franchise. Liu’s impact is undeniable and shows no sign of slowing down, and she continues to feature in film and TV, always turning in an amazing performance no matter how large or small her role. Here’s a look at her best performances, ranked.

Related: Lucy Liu is Supervillain Kalypso in Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods

9 Why Women Kill

why women kill

Created by Marc Cherry, Why Women Kill is Liu's most recent tv series, which premiered in 2019, and is set over multiple time periods, depicting deaths which were caused at the hands of different women. Liu plays Simone Grove, who is a housewife from the story set in 1984 and is devastated to learn that she has been cheated on. Liu's performance is comical and strong, and presents her in a different light to some of the other roles she is more famous for. Liu's performance received excellent reviews and the series is an enjoyable watch.

8 The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya

Lucy Liu Princess

The Tale of the Princes Kaguya is a 2013 Japanese animated historical-fantasy film directed by Isao Takahata, which was extremely successful, and, in the English dubbed version, Liu lends her voice acting talents. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 87th Academy Awards. The story follows a nymph who turns into a young woman who asks her suitors to perform near-impossible tasks to prove their love. Liu voices Lady Sagami, who serves as an etiquette coach for the main character, Kaguya.

7 Chicago

Chicago-1

Rob Marshall’s 2002 screen adaptation of Chicago is a well-known musical which stands the test of time and remains iconic today. The story is set in the roaring 20s, following the paths of two woman locked up for murder. Liu plays Kitty Baxter, a woman who shot her husband and his lovers when she caught them in bed. Liu embodies the fierceness needed for the role, and even in her short appearance, she remains extremely memorable.

6 Elementary

Elementary-1

Elementary was a TV series created by Robert Doherty which ran from 2012-2019 and is a modern-day reboot of the Sherlock Holmes tales. Liu plays Joan Watson, a former medic who is now Sherlock’s partner in crime. Liu’s character is empowering, and throughout the series, cements her status as Holmes’ equal, solving cases for the NYPD alongside him. The series is great, and this is helped with Liu’s strong onscreen presence.

Related: Best Actors Who Played Sherlock Holmes, Ranked

5 Lucky Number Slevin

Lucy Lucy number

2006’s Lucky Number Slevin was directed by Paul McGuigan, and was another foray into the neo-noir genre for Liu. Josh Hartnett plays the main character Slevin Kelevra, and the story follows how he ends up in between two of New York’s leading criminals after a case of mistaken identity. Liu plays Lindsey, who teams up with Slevin while he is on the run. The film did not receive a great response from critics, however, Liu’s performance showcased how she could hold her own against huge names like Morgan Freeman and Bruce Willis.

4 Kung-Fu Panda

Kung fu panda

Kung Fu Panda is an animated movie franchise that has thus far spawned 3 films which have been hugely popular. The films follow the story of Po, a lazy panda who dreams of being a Kung Fu master. Liu plays Viper the snake, who is a member of the ‘Furious Five’ Kung Fu masters. Liu’s voice is gentle and suits the role well, once again showing her diverse range of acting and voice acting talents.

3 Detachment

lucy-liu-detachment
Tribeca Film

Lucy Liu stars as Dr Doris Parker in Tony Kaye’s 2012 drama, Detachment. Doris Parker is the school counselor who nervously tries to help and guide unmotivated high school students. The impressionist take on high school is refreshing, and Liu succeeds in a more tender and gentle role than her usual onscreen portrayals.

2 Charlie’s Angels

charlies angels

Lucy Liu’s fame skyrocketed after she was cast as Alex in the 2000’s Charlie’s Angels reboot of the famous franchise. Charlie’s Angels follows the story of three women working for a private detective agency in Los Angeles, and the journey they experience fighting crime together. Liu spoke about negative experiences and conflicts that arose with her co-stars, and the film received mixed reviews from critics. It was monumental for an Asian-American actor to be cast in a glamorous role equal to her co-stars for the time and represents a milestone in representation. Charlie’s Angels would go on to be rebooted again, however many prefer the 2000 version, and it remains a cult classic.

1 Kill Bill Vol. 1

Lucy Liu Is Supervillain Kalypso in Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods

The Kill Bill franchise by Quentin Tarantino was an homage to anime and follows Uma Thurman (The Bride) on her quest for vengeance after she is betrayed by the group of assassins she previously belonged to. In Kill Bill Vol. 1, Liu plays O-Ren Ishii who is a high-ranking assassin that the bride eventually comes face to face with and defeats in a final battle sequence that is now a piece of cinematic history. Liu plays this role perfectly, and it’s a perfect example of how her acting talents and screen presence will never be replicated