Liu Yifei
Liu Yifei | |
|---|---|
| File:Liuyifei.jpg | |
| Born | An Feng |
| Other names | Liu Qianmeizi and Crystal Liu |
Liu Yifei (born 25 August 1987 in Wuhan, China) is a Chinese American actress and singer. Although she is often credited as Liu Yi Fei (simplified Chinese: 刘亦菲; traditional Chinese: 劉亦菲), her legal name is Liu Qian Mei Zi (simplified Chinese: 刘茜美子; traditional Chinese: 劉茜美子).[1] At the age of 15, Liu Yifei's role as "Wang Yuyan" in the television serial, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils propelled her to fame in China.
Biography
Born at Tongji hospital in Wuhan, China on August 25, 1987, Liu's birthname was An Feng (simplified Chinese: 安风; traditional Chinese: 安風).[2] Her father was a university professor while her mother was a dancer and a stage performer. They divorced when she was 7 years old. After her parents' divorce, Liu lived with her mother, Liu Xiao Li (simplified Chinese: 刘晓莉; traditional Chinese: 劉曉莉) and her name was changed to Liu Qian Mei Zi. She began modelling at the age of 8 and was trained in singing, dancing and the piano. Moving to the United States in 1998 with her mother, Liu lived there for four years and attained her American citizenship. She returned to China in June 2002 to pursue an acting career and adopted her stage name Liu Yi Fei. In September 2002, she was accepted into the Performance Institute of Beijing Film Academy at the age of 15, making her the youngest student the school has ever had. She graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in July 2006.
Career
Immediately following her admittance into Beijing Film Academy, Liu received offers to star in various television drama serials. Her first role on television was in The Story of a Noble Family. Shortly after, she was chosen to portray the role of "Wang Yuyan" in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, a drama based on the same-titled novel by the acclaimed wuxia writer, Jinyong. It was this role that established her fame in China. Her fame was further enhanced through her starring role in the video game adaptation of television drama, Chinese Paladin in 2004.
In 2006, Liu starred in another television production based on a book by Jinyong, The Return of the Condor Heroes. After intense speculation on who would get the role of "Xiaolongnü", the part was finally offered to her. She was backed by Jinyong, who felt that she had all the necessary qualities to play the role of the young and innocent "Xiaolongnü".[3] Although the drama serials she has acted in were well-received, the movies she starred in, did poorly in terms of box office takings.
In conjunction with her acting career, Liu obtained a recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment Japan in August 2005 and has studied singing and dancing in Japan since then.[4] She released her first single "Mayonaka no Doa" with Sony Music on July 19, 2006.
Filmography
| Year | Type | Title | Role | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Film | A Bao De Gu Shi - 阿宝的故事 | ||
| Television series | The Return of the Condor Heroes (Shen diao xia lu - 神雕侠侣) |
Xiaolongnü | ||
| 2005 | Television series | Dou Kou Nian Hua - 豆蔻年华 | ||
| 2004 | Television series | Chinese Paladin (Xian Jian Qi Xia Zhuan - 仙剑奇侠传) |
Zhao Ling Er | |
| Film | Love of May (Wu yue zhi lian - 五月之恋) |
Zhao Xuan | Wu yue zhi lian at IMDb | |
| The Love Winner (Lian ai da ying jia - 恋爱大赢家) |
Jin Qiao Li | Alternate title (Taiwan): I love how you love me - 喜歡你喜歡我 | ||
| 2003 | Television series | Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (Tian Long Ba Bu - 天龙八部) |
Wang Yuyan | Tian Long Ba Bu at IMDb |
| 2002 | Television series | The Story of a Noble Family (Jin Fen Shi Jia - 金粉世家) |
Bai Xiu Zhu |
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | All My Words | Sony Music | Japanese album (Release date: 6 September 2006) |
Singles
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Mayonaka no Doa (真夜中のドア) Midnight Door |
Sony Music |
Trivia
- In Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Liu Yifei's part was first given to Liu Tao. However, after 15-year-old Liu Yifei was spotted, she was given the role of "Wang Yuyan" and Liu Tao was cast as "A Zhu".
- Appeared in Jimmy Lin Chih Ying's music video of the song "I am still waiting for you" (我还在等你) from his 2006 album Can't stop me (挡不住我). She has also previously starred in a television series (Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils) and a film (The Love Winner) with him.
References
- ^ Template:Zh icon "神仙姐姐" 劉亦菲 Xinhua online. 29 July 2004. Retrieved on 21 August 2006.
- ^ Template:Zh icon 劉亦菲成長照片曝光 跳新疆舞美若天仙 People's Daily. 30 November 2005. Retrieved on 21 August 2006.
- ^ Template:Zh icon 張紀中定"新俠侶" 金庸贊"小龍女" People's Daily. 13 July 2006. Retrieved on 21 August 2006.
- ^ Liu Yifei eyes international singing circle Xinhua online. 28 May 2005. Retrieved on 17 July 2006.
External links
- Template:Jp icon Yifei Liu - official Japanese website
- Template:En icon Liu YiFei fansite and forum
- Yifei Liu at IMDb