Lisa Lu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lisa Lu
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| 盧燕 | |||||||||||
Lu in 2007
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| Born |
Lu Pingxiang (盧萍香)
January 19, 1927 |
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| Citizenship | United States | ||||||||||
| Occupation | Actress | ||||||||||
| Years active | 1958–present | ||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Shelling Hwong | ||||||||||
| Children | 3, including Lucia Hwong | ||||||||||
| Awards | Full list | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 盧燕 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 卢燕 | ||||||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 盧萍香 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 盧萍香 | ||||||||||
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Lisa Lu Yan (born January 19, 1927) is a famous Chinese-American actress. For over 60 years, she has starred in movies and TV shows in Hong Kong, the United States, and mainland China.
Lu is a highly respected actress who has won three Golden Horse Awards, which are like the Oscars for Chinese-language films. She is also a member of the group that votes for the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards.
On May 5, 2025, Lu received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the oldest person ever to get this honor.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lisa Lu was born in Beijing, China, in 1927. Her family was very involved in Kunqu, a traditional style of Chinese opera. Her mother was a singer, and she was the adopted daughter of the famous opera star Mei Lanfang. Lu started performing in these operas when she was a teenager.
She went to a school run by English missionaries, so she learned to speak English very well from a young age. In 1945, she began college, but her education was stopped by the Chinese Civil War. In 1947, her family moved to the United States.
In America, she studied at the University of Hawaiʻi. After moving to Los Angeles in 1956, she joined the famous Pasadena Playhouse to study acting. She started her professional acting career on stage in 1958.
A Career in Film and Television
Early TV Roles
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Lu appeared in many popular American TV shows. She had a regular part in the Western series Yancy Derringer. She also guest-starred in shows like Have Gun – Will Travel, Bonanza, and The Big Valley.
Becoming a Movie Star
In 1960, Lu starred with the famous actor James Stewart in the war movie The Mountain Road. This role helped start her film career.
During the 1970s, she became a huge star in Hong Kong cinema. She was especially known for playing the powerful Empress Dowager Cixi in movies like The Empress Dowager and The Last Tempest. This became her most famous character.
Years later, she played Empress Cixi again in the Oscar-winning movie The Last Emperor (1987). This film introduced her to a worldwide audience.
Famous Roles for Modern Audiences
Many people today know Lisa Lu from her roles in more recent hit movies. She played one of the mothers in The Joy Luck Club (1993).
In 2018, she played the wise and wealthy grandmother, Shang Su Yi, in the blockbuster movie Crazy Rich Asians. She also appeared in the Disney+ series American Born Chinese in 2023.
A Career of Many Awards
Lisa Lu has won many awards for her acting. She is a three-time winner at the prestigious Golden Horse Awards.
- 1970: Best Actress for The Arch
- 1972: Best Supporting Actress for The 14 Amazons
- 1975: Best Actress for The Empress Dowager
In 2019, the cast of Crazy Rich Asians, including Lu, was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has also received several lifetime achievement awards for her amazing career in film.
Personal Life
Lu was married to Shelling Hwong until he passed away in 1996. They had three children together. One of her daughters, Lucia Hwong, is a successful music composer.
See also
In Spanish: Lisa Lu para niños
- Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress
