Liu Shishi ( zh, c=刘诗诗, p=Liú Shīshī; born 10 March 1987), also known as Cecilia Liu, is a Chinese actress best known for portraying
Long Kui in the
fantasy action drama ''
Chinese Paladin 3'' (2009) and Ruoxi in the Chinese time-travel drama ''
Scarlet Heart'' (2011). Her other notable works include ''
The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' (2008), ''
The Imperial Doctress'' (2016)'','' and ''A Journey to Love'' (2023).
Career
2005–2010: Beginnings and Rising popularity
Professionally trained in ballet at the
Beijing Dance Academy
The Beijing Dance Academy (BDA, ) is a municipal public professional dance college at Haidian District, Haidian, Beijing. The academy is the highest institution for dance education and assessment in the People's Republic of China, conducting the ...
, Liu Shishi made her acting debut in a leading role in the television drama series ''The Moon and the Wind'' (2005), which included a specially designed segment of
Swan Lake.
She then starred in wuxia drama ''
The Young Warriors'' (2006) and shenmo television series ''
The Fairies of Liaozhai'' (2007).
In 2007, Liu graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy and was signed on by
Tangren Media. She gained recognition for her roles as
Mu Nianci in the wuxia drama ''
The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' (2008) and as
Long Kui in the
fantasy action drama ''
Chinese Paladin 3'' (2009).
In 2010, Liu starred in the historical drama ''
A Weaver on the Horizon'', based on the life story of
Huang Daopo.
2011–2012: Breakthrough and venture into films
In 2011, Liu starred alongside
Wallace Huo in period action drama ''
The Vigilantes In Masks'', which received positive reviews.
She then played the female protagonist, Ruoxi, in the time travel historical romance series, ''
Scarlet Heart'', based on the novel ''
Bu Bu Jing Xin'' by
Tong Hua.
''Scarlet Heart'' became a megahit in China and beyond.
Liu bagged several awards at local award-giving bodies for her performance, including Most Popular Actress awards at the
China TV Drama Awards and
Shanghai Television Festival. The drama has since been adapted into
Korean and
Thai versions.
Liu followed her TV success with several big screen roles. She made her feature film debut in ''The Next Miracle'' (2012), directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Zhuo Li.
She also filmed two other movies, ''
Sad Fairy Tale'' and ''
A Moment of Love''.
In 2012, Liu starred in action drama ''
Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky'', adapted from the
video game of the same name.
The series topped TV ratings and garnered 2 billion views online.
Liu's soaring popularity due to ''Scarlet Heart'' in 2011 coupled with ''Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky'' in 2012 allowed her to become the "
Golden Eagle Goddess" at the
9th China Golden Eagle TV Art Festival.
She was also chosen by ''
Southern Metropolis Daily'' as one of the new
Four Dan Actresses alongside
Angelababy,
Yang Mi and
Ni Ni.
2013–present: Mainstream popularity
In 2013, Liu starred in action comedy ''
Badges of Fury'' alongside
Jet Li
Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese-born Singaporean Martial arts, martial artist and actor. With a Jet Li filmography, film career spanning more than forty years, Li is re ...
.
She then starred in
wuxia film ''
Brotherhood of Blades
''Brotherhood of Blades'' () is a 2014 Chinese '' wuxia'' film directed by Lu Yang. Set in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the story follows Shen Lian, a guard of the imperial secret police seeking and his three comrades as they are ordered to hunt ...
'',
alongside Taiwanese actor
Chang Chen, for which Liu was nominated for Best Actress at the
China Film Directors' Guild Awards.
In 2014, Liu starred in the historical romance drama ''
Sound of the Desert'', based on the novel ''
Ballad of the Desert'' written by
Tong Hua.
The series topped television and web ratings domestically, and was also well-received overseas. Liu then starred in romance film ''
Five Minutes to Tomorrow'' playing dual roles.
She and co-stars
Haruma Miura and
Joseph Chang attended the 19th
Busan International Film Festival for the premiere of the film, where she received the Asia Star Award.
In 2016, Liu headlined the historical drama ''
The Imperial Doctress'', based on the life of
Tan Yunxian, a female physician during China's
Ming Dynasty
The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...
.
The drama topped television ratings its run and received positive reviews, and Liu won the Most Influential Actress award at 1st China Television Drama Quality Ceremony for her performance.
In 2017, Liu starred along actors
Wang Qianyuan and
Cao Bingkun in the spy drama ''The Battle at Dawn''.
The year also saw her long-overdue romance drama ''Angelo'', which was shot in 2011, air. In it, she played a young single mother opposite
Ming Dao.
Liu then starred in historical fantasy drama ''
Lost Love in Times'' alongside
William Chan,
as well as the crime suspense film ''
The Liquidator'' where she played a palaeoichnology expert.
In 2019, Liu starred in the romance melodrama ''
If I Can Love You So'' alongside
Tong Dawei. The series has previously completed filming in 2016.
The same year, she announced her comeback after two years with the female-centric modern drama ''To Dear Myself''.
Personal life
Liu Shishi's grandfather, Liu Tianli, was a performance artist of Xihe Dagu ballad. Both of Liu's parents had been factory workers. Liu's mother retired early for health reasons, while her father later became a businessman.
Liu married her ''Scarlet Heart'' co-star
Nicky Wu on January 20, 2015 and their wedding ceremony was held in
Bali
Bali (English:; Balinese language, Balinese: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller o ...
, Indonesia on March 20, 2016. On April 27, 2019, Liu gave birth to a son, nicknamed BuBu after ''Scarlet Heart (Bubu Jingxin)''.
Filmography
Film
Short film
Television series
Music video
Discography
Awards and nominations
2020, Cosmo Glam Night
, Person of the year award
Forbes China Celebrity 100
References
External links
*
Liu Shishi's Weibo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liu, Shishi
1987 births
21st-century Chinese actresses
21st-century Chinese women singers
Actresses from Beijing
Beijing Dance Academy alumni
Chinese film actresses
Chinese television actresses
Hui actresses
Living people
Singers from Beijing