'I cannot turn myself into...'—Lucy Liu on racial barriers in Hollywood
Lucy Liu, after three decades in Hollywood, is finally getting her first dramatic lead—and she's not shy about the hurdles she faced.
"I cannot turn myself into somebody who looks Caucasian, but if I could, I would've had so many more opportunities," she told The Hollywood Reporter, reflecting on how typecasting limited her career.
Why this matters
Liu says that despite early hits like Ally McBeal and action movies, good roles dried up because of industry bias—not her own choices.
She describes a "strange lull" where offers just didn't match her talent.
Now with Rosemead, she's breaking out of that box.
Rosemead: A turning point
In Rosemead (premiered at Tribeca 2025), Liu plays Irene—a terminally ill Chinese immigrant mom facing tough truths about her son.
The film has already picked up several awards and hits US theaters December 5.
For Liu, it's proof that change is possible—even if it took way too long.