Lisa Lu is a renowned Chinese-American actress who began her career as a teenager performing in traditional Kunqu theatrical productions, a style of Chinese opera. As the Chinese Civil War concluded with a Communist victory in 1949, the new regime's financial support for China's theaters gradually dwindled, prompting Lu to migrate to the United States in the late 1950s in search of more career opportunities.
In 1960, Lu landed her first notable film role as Madame Su-Mei Hung, the widow of a Chinese officer, in The Mountain Road, set during World War II. The film follows her brief romance with Major Baldwin, an American unit leader, whose anti-Japanese mission leads to the destruction of an entire Chinese village, resulting in thousands of innocent casualties.
Throughout the 1960s, Lu continued to appear in various television shows and films, including Bonanza, Rider on a Dead Horse, and Womanhunt. She found more work in Hong Kong films, most notably in The 14 Amazons, in which she played the semi-legendary female general She Saihua.
In the 1970s, Lu appeared in a range of films, including the American horror film Terror in the Wax Museum, the Chinese drama The Empress Dowager, and the science fiction film Demon Seed. She also reprised her role as Empress Dowager Cixi in the sequel The Last Tempest.
Throughout the 1980s, Lu continued to work in film and television, appearing in projects such as the documentary Sewing Woman, the adventure film Tai-Pan, and the mini-series Noble House. She also played Empress Dowager Cixi for a third time in the film The Last Emperor.
In the 1990s, Lu appeared in films such as The Joy Luck Club, Temptation of a Monk, and The Postmodern Life of My Aunt. She continued to play small roles throughout the 2000s, including in the comedy-drama The Postmodern Life of My Aunt.
In the 2010s, Lu had a substantial role in the drama film Apart Together, and appeared in the romantic dramas Dangerous Liaisons and Crazy Rich Asians. Despite being 91 years old, Lu continued to work in the film industry, showcasing her remarkable career and dedication to her craft.
