Lisa Lu

Lisa Lu Yan, actual name Lu Pingxiang, is an accomplished Chinese-American actress born on January 19, 1927, in Beijing. She began her acting journey in 1958, making an impressive mark in Hong Kong, American, and mainland Chinese films and television. In the 1970s, her exceptional performances won her the Golden Horse Awards, two for Best Leading Actress and once for Best Supporting Actress. Lisa Lu is a rare talent with the distinction of being a member of both the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Adopted by the renowned Chinese opera performer Mei Lanfang, Lu followed in her adoptive parents' footsteps and began performing in Kunqu as a teenager. After interruptions due to the Chinese Civil War, she relocated to Taiwan with her family, and further pursued her education in business administration at National Chiao Tung University and financial management from the University of Hawaii. She made her big break in 1958 with her professional stage debut in The Teahouse of the August Moon. Lu had an extensive career with guest starring roles in famous shows including Bonanza, Have Gun - Will Travel and The Big Valley among others. The 1970s saw her film career flourish, and she particularly excelled in Mandarin-language films. Lisa Lu is best known for her portrayal of the Qing Empress Dowager Cixi, a role she reprised in other successful projects such as The Last Emperor and the Qianlong Dynasty series. Other notable works include The Joy Luck Club and Crazy Rich Asians. To top it off, Lisa made commendable efforts towards different domains being a radio announcer, accountant, lab technician and translator in Honolulu.