Lucy Liu got her start with a walk-on role in Ally McBeal and leveraged it into a thriving career as America's most successful Asian actress. The question is, has her success been good or bad for Asian American women?

I wouldn't exactly say it's bad. I enjoy watching Lucy Liu in various movie roles. I do feel kind of bad for her because she does seem "pigeonholed" into doing roles that have to do with martial arts or the asian dominatrix. Charlie's Angels is probably the only role she's done which isn't like that, though she STILL does martial arts there.

I think it's great that there are asian women in the media but at the same time, I also think Lucy Liu is bad because she fits into the mold of what other people think asians would look like...that is, her eyes look more 'asian' than most other asians...and not all asian females look like that!!! I feel that Liu reinforces the image of an exotic Other because her features are so exaggerated. I think it's obvious that some actresses get more work than others simply because they have that 'asian look.' This is not representative of asian females and is also insulting to people who don't have those stereotypical features.

I would have to disagree that Lucy Lui has the stereotypical Asian features. She has freckles, a Caucasian feature. If Margaret Cho lost a lot of weight and became an Asian goddess...then I'd think she'd fit the stereotypical(physically) of Asian females.

I'm not a Lucy Lui fan but it's great that she's hot because most "top" Asian actresses past and present aren't even Asian. They are mixed race like Nancy Kwan, France Nuyen, Kelly Hu, Tia Carrere, Barbara Luna, Julia Nickson(Rambo film), Stacey Kamano. These women were and are "hot" probably because they have the Western features along with the exotic to appeal to all audiences. It would be great to have a "pure" Asian female sex symbol who doesn't have "Caucasian" features. AMerica hasn't had one since Anna May Wong in the 1930's.

now i gotcha, unique, after reading your posts. that's a good point here.

Lucy Liu? Don't make me laugh. She's a whore - plain and simple.

She's not even pretty! She's an ugly Asian female who is so far gone as a pawn of white-man's media, she apparently even had a white father in Charlie's Angels 2 (don't personally know because I never watch garbage.)

I have a very big problem when Asian females are in the media with no Asian male anywhere in sight. Who makes it that way? The white male producers, directors, writers, etc., etc., ad nauseum.

HELLO?!? WAKE UP!! THAT'S RACIST!! STOP SUPPORTING THAT CRAP!!

Folks, *please* put down the haterade.
I completely support Lucy. She breaks the rules by being a STRONG WOMAN and playing aggressive roles that go against the stereotype of the submissive AF. And from what interviews I've read, she is very proud of her heritage, unlike some sistas.
And the best part is, she looks like an average sista, with her dark skin, freckles, and plain features, unlike the pale-ass usually-hapa (or looks like one) type promoted both here and in Asia.
Go Lucy!

i dont see why kelly hu is not as big as lucy liu in hollywood. kelly hu is a lot hotter and seems more desirable than lucy liu.....although both of them are pretty [private]y in their article interviews. does anyone has know why lucy liu is more popular?

In my opinion Lucy Liu seems like a strong and confident individual.
She has the no visible eyelid look and very typical asian look but she would never have surgery or anything to alter it. She seems to me to have alot of self-esteem and at least proud of her chinese heritage. No bleaching/curling her hair or make her eyes look more round...she is beutiful the way she is...happy in her skin and happy to be chinese. You go girl!

KKP - HELLO?!? WAKE UP!! THAT'S RACIST!! STOP SUPPORTING THAT CRAP!!



I totally agree with you. Lucy Liu gets the absolute sluttiest roles an d is a pawn for the White egotistical chuevanist.
Even if you consider her last movie, Kill Bill, I think it is a little far fetched that she fatefully loses to Uma Thurman - a White girl with a sword.

Of course, you've gotta look at it from her perspective. Growing up, she was a self proclaimed ungly duckling just like a lot of other Asian American girls with low self esteem ( AA teens have the largest sucicide rate).
For Lucy, having stardome and fame is her dream come true. She couldn't care less how much she has to pander to White male sexual desire. She's in a sense no different than FMJ's "Me So Horney " vietnamese prostitute. In 20 years, people will still remember that seen but, in that much time, only the dirtiest things Liu does will be remembered.

I think a lot of Asian guys are extremely jealous of Lucy Liu. Jealous of her success. She is a million time prettier than that William Hung. Of course we know William can not sing, dance, speak, act and is geeky.

I think Lucy Lui is so busted. She is as ugly as a ugly fat white women.

If I were to go outside walking I probably pick out a girl with my eyes close better than her and a ugly loud fat chick.

I like Lucy Liu. I think other Asians should stop bashing her- I think she's pretty and am glad she's not one of those Asian women who look like they've done a ton a plastic surgery to "fit in." Go Lucy!

The portrayal of Asian women in film has either been a dragon lady or a fragile lotus blossom. Unfortunately, Lucy Liu has been type-cast as a dragon lady and is contributing to the stereotype. Her role in the Charlie's Angels movies, as well as, her TV persona in Ally McBeal are very similar in that they portray her as sexy, exotic and aggressive--she roars in Ally McBeal when she does not get her way.

Back in the 1920's, Anna May Wong probably set the "white" standard for the portrayal of Asian women. She was beautiful but she played the dragon woman and the submissive, loyal servant so well that for the next 80 years the stereotype hasn't changed much.

I wish there will be an Asian Sidney Poitier, either male or female, who can transcend both the minority and the majority. Sidney Poitier was able to play roles where he pushed the portrayal of African Americans in film. He played roles that challenged the stereotype in movies like "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", "To Sir, with Love", and "In the Heat of the Night". He opened the door for great character actors like Charles Dutton and Denzel Washington.

While I wish Lucy Liu all the best and success in her career, I hope her next role will push the edge and break the 80 year old stereotype of an Asian woman.

I just don't get those asians attacking people like Lucy Liu and more recently William Hung. They're just making a few quick bucks and in Lucy's case a very nice living. It's neither illegal nor immoral. If these [offensive comment edited out] are so concern about the negative image of asians based on these portrayal then they need to confront the culprits when an opportunity arise and set the record straight or if necessary point out the ignorant stereotypes. Attacking fellow asians is just an exercise in futility.

It's amazing how so many people think making money is everything,and justifies everything-"Fame and fortune".How many though would have turned down the type of money she's making to do those roles.You would have to have alot of integrity.

I feel like in Lucy Liu's case, it's a catch-22 situation. So her roles have been aggressive and sexy-which gives off the old dragon-lady/sexy dominatrix stereotype. But if she ventured into the soft feminine type role-like a chinese Charlotte from Sex in the City or a chinese Grace from will and grace, then people would say she is playing the weak sexually-repressed or sexual failure asian woman. For a white person, it will be because Charlotte is sweet Charlotte and Grace's failed relationships and small boobs as something some people can identify with and it's funny. For an Asian person to play those roles, people will just see the characters' personalities as having roots to Asianness. The sweet femininity of Charlotte will be because Asians women are ultra feminine. The klutzy ditsy Grace with the failed relationships and the small boobs is because she is Asian.

I think because of Lucy Liu's racialized features, in any role she plays, people are going to pick out what they consider to be Chinese or Asian attributes. Asian stereotypes are hard to avoid because the stereotypes are created at two extremes and you have to find the perfect middle.

I will give Lucy Liu props for persevering and for making a name for herself in Hollywood. Despite playing some questionable roles, she makes it known that Asian Americans DO exist in hollywood. But I am disappointed that she hasn't used her fame to push for more balanced Asian American roles or at least participate in Asian American related activities- at least not to my knowledge.

Social Engineering and damage control by white males in order to maintain a unnatural state. A state so ill balanced it requires a great deal of energy and resources.

The most common image for non white women in white media is to glorify the white male. Sexually, romantically and even as protector.

It isn't a accident that we often see in movies a white male adored and surrounded by non white females while at the same time non white men are completely absent or play a sidekick asexual role.

White men have a sensitive hand on the pulse of racial relations, the kind concerning the attractability of white men to non white females. When ever this relation is weakened or threatened a high budget film is made with numerous hormone inducing scenes between some white male and the race of female(s) in concern.

Fortunately for white men, non white men have become tolerant or complacent to such brain washing mass media engineering. Reverse the roles in American/global cinema, placing white women in various heart throbbing scenes with non whites, then surely the white male would have nothing less then a unified protest, probably a violent one.

Lucy Lu is simply a tool for the white male's propaganda machine.
Any educated/socially conscious person would be disturbed with her lack of responsibility.

Critics may say that a person, actress, has a right to do as she please.
They may say that her influence on societry has been accasserated.
Some may even say that she is a positive influence for AFs.

I argue, then why are white men sooooooooooo very controlling and territorial over every aspect of their global media? Why racially monopolize certain roles for white men while also prohibiting certain roles from men of non white races? Could it be they realize they stumbled on a powerful social tool and undermines its importance only to deny their abuse of it?

Keeps one up at nights thinking about it.

Social Engineering and damage control by white males in order to maintain a unnatural state. A state so ill balanced it requires a great deal of energy and resources.

The most common image for non white women in white media is to glorify the white male. Sexually, romantically and even as protector.

It isn't a accident that we often see in movies a white male adored and surrounded by non white females while at the same time non white men are completely absent or play a sidekick asexual role.

White men have a sensitive hand on the pulse of racial relations, the kind concerning the attractability of white men to non white females. When ever this relation is weakened or threatened a high budget film is made with numerous hormone inducing scenes between some white male and the race of female(s) in concern.

Fortunately for white men, non white men have become tolerant or complacent to such brain washing mass media engineering. Reverse the roles in American/global cinema, placing white women in various heart throbbing scenes with non whites, then surely the white male would have nothing less then a unified protest, probably a violent one.

Lucy Lu is simply a tool for the white male's propaganda machine.
Any educated/socially conscious person would be disturbed with her lack of responsibility.

Critics may say that a person, actress, has a right to do as she please.
They may say that her influence on societry has been accasserated.
Some may even say that she is a positive influence for AFs.

I argue, then why are white men sooooooooooo very controlling and territorial over every aspect of their global media? Why racially monopolize certain roles for white men while also prohibiting certain roles from men of non white races? Could it be they realize they stumbled on a powerful social tool and undermines its importance only to deny their abuse of it?

Keeps one up at nights thinking about it.

I see small gaps opening up for non white males. Rare scenes of intimacy between a non white male and a white female. However, currently scenes involving couples in American commercials are of WM/AF, this far far far far out number couples of AM/AF or AM/WF (non existant almost). Market reseach shows thar white males simply go up the wall if a white female is seen with another race, while it also please the WMs greatly to see themselves as sexual dominators.

Simply, any AF in the white media will be shamelessly, abused in this manner. It is a right of passage for non white female actresses. As Tyra Banks said, only after having her own show, she had to please the whites even if it meant shaming her black race.


I don't mind if groups organized ito races or countries or political lines etc... compete for power and resources. Its natural, I just wish white men would stop trying to hide the OBVIOUS and admit it.