Lucy Liu on Finding Fulfilment Beyond Box Office Success

Lucy Liu’s journey through Hollywood has been anything but straightforward. Although she first made waves in the late 1990s, it was her role in Charlie’s Angels that truly cemented her place in the public eye. Over the years, she’s taken on a variety of roles, from the unforgettable scene in Kill Bill to her mischievous turn in Chicago. Yet, for much of her career, Liu felt the industry’s doors were often closed to her as a Chinese-American actress.

This sense of exclusion made the chance to appear in a superhero film particularly appealing. When the opportunity arose to join the cast of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Liu was eager to embrace it. However, the film’s performance at the box office left much to be desired, barely scraping past its production costs and falling short of expectations.

Embracing the Experience

For some actors, a film’s commercial outcome can overshadow the experience itself. Yet, Liu’s perspective is rather different. She found genuine satisfaction in simply being part of a project she had long hoped to join. Reflecting on her involvement, she remarked,

I think being part of a superhero movie is a super dream, because I am a super fan of comics and of that time, which is my childhood

. In Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Liu portrayed Kalypso, a character wielding the power of chaos, alongside a cast that included Helen Mirren, Adam Brody, and Zachary Levi. While the original Shazam! enjoyed considerable success, its sequel struggled to make a similar impact.

Despite this, Liu viewed her participation as a significant moment in her career. She explained,

So it really is a dream to be a part of something that, at that time, was unattainable and to grow into that space, and to have them grow into that space, for diversity, for women, and empowerment. It’s not even just quotables, it’s a real thing and being a part of that is really a dream come true.

Changing the Face of Superhero Films

Historically, superhero films have been dominated by male leads, with female characters often relegated to the background or presented in a one-dimensional manner. In recent years, however, there has been a noticeable shift. Liu expressed her satisfaction at being part of this evolving landscape, even if the film itself did not achieve widespread acclaim.

She spoke further about the importance of seeing oneself represented on screen, noting that it’s about finding a sense of belonging. Liu reflected on her own experiences growing up in an immigrant family, saying,

We all want to belong, and that’s why we’re all here at Comic-Con. I mean, as a child, for me, coming from an immigrant family, I did not feel like I belonged. Right?

Belonging and Self-Discovery

Liu likened her career in entertainment to joining a “circus” of individuals all searching for their place. She looks back on her achievements with a sense of gratitude, attributing her success to a combination of perseverance and good fortune. As she put it,

where I can really feel like I belong, and we’re all looking for that

. For Liu, the true reward lies not in box office figures, but in the opportunity to contribute to a more inclusive and empowering industry.