Liu Shishi

Liu Shishi (Chinese: 刘诗诗; pinyin: 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).

Liu Shishi
刘诗诗
Liu in 2024
Born	(1987-03-10) 10 March 1987 (age 37) Beijing, China
Other names	Cecilia Liu
Alma mater	Beijing Dance Academy
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2004–present
Spouse	Nicky Wu ​ (m. 2015)​
Children	1
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	刘诗诗
Traditional Chinese	劉詩詩
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Liú Shīshī Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Lau4 Si1 Si1
Birth name
Simplified Chinese	刘诗施
Traditional Chinese	劉詩施
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Liú Shīshī

In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.

Career

2005–2010: Beginnings and Rising popularity

Professionally trained in ballet at the Beijing Dance Academy, 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.^[1] She then starred in wuxia drama The Young Warriors (2006) and shenmo television series The Fairies of Liaozhai (2007).^[2][3]

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).^[4][5][6] In 2010, Liu starred in the historical drama A Weaver on the Horizon, based on the life story of Huang Daopo.^[7]

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.^[8] 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.^[9] Scarlet Heart became a megahit in China and beyond.^[10][11] 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.^[12] She also filmed two other movies, Sad Fairy Tale and A Moment of Love.^[13]

In 2012, Liu starred in action drama Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky, adapted from the video game of the same name.^[14][15] The series topped TV ratings and garnered 2 billion views online.^[16] 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.^[17] She was also chosen by Southern Metropolis Daily as one of the new Four Dan Actresses alongside Angelababy, Yang Mi and Ni Ni.^[18]

2013–present: Mainstream popularity

In 2013, Liu starred in action comedy Badges of Fury alongside Jet Li.^[19][20] She then starred in wuxia film Brotherhood of Blades,^[21] alongside Taiwanese actor Chang Chen, for which Liu was nominated for Best Actress at the China Film Directors' Guild Awards.^[22]

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.^[23] The series topped television and web ratings domestically, and was also well-received overseas.^[24] Liu then starred in romance film Five Minutes to Tomorrow playing dual roles.^[25] 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.^[26]

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.^[27] 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.^[28] In 2017, Liu starred along actors Wang Qianyuan and Cao Bingkun in the spy drama The Battle at Dawn.^[29] 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.^[30] Liu then starred in historical fantasy drama Lost Love in Times alongside William Chan,^[31] as well as the crime suspense film The Liquidator where she played a palaeoichnology expert.^[32]

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.^[33] The same year, she announced her comeback after two years with the female-centric modern drama To Dear Myself.^[34]

Personal life

Liu Shishi's grandfather, Liu Tianli, was a performance artist of Xihe Dagu ballad.^[35] Both of Liu's parents had been factory workers. Liu's mother retired early for health reasons, while her father later became a businessman.^[36]

Liu married her Scarlet Heart co-star Nicky Wu on January 20, 2015^[37] and their wedding ceremony was held in Bali, Indonesia on March 20, 2016.^[38] On April 27, 2019, Liu gave birth to a son, nicknamed BuBu after Scarlet Heart (Bubu Jingxin).^[39]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2006	The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng	Sun Xiuqing	Television film	[40]
2012	The Next Miracle	Li Jiayi		[12]
	Sad Fairy Tale	Yang Jia		[13]
2013	Badges of Fury	Liu Jingshui		[19]
	A Moment of Love	Ji Yaqing
2014	Brotherhood of Blades	Zhou Miaotong		[21]
	Five Minutes to Tomorrow	Ruo Lan / Ru Mei		[25]
2017	The Liquidator	Mi Nan		[32]

Short film

Year	Title	Role	Ref.
2009	Dream Zhu Xian	Liu Xiaoxiao / Mo Li / Zhen'er	[41]
2011	Dream Back to Mount Deer	Suo Feiya	[42]
2012	Coincidence	Yao Bingbing
2013	Dreamers	Celebrity	[43]

Television series

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2005	The Moon and the Wind	Yang Fenghe / Yan Xiulian		[1]
2006	Flying Like a Butterfly	Qi'er		[44]
	The Young Warriors	Lady Luo		[2]
2007	The Fairies of Liaozhai	Xin Shisiniang		[3]
2008	The Legend of the Condor Heroes	Mu Nianci		[4]
2009	Chinese Paladin 3	Long Kui		[6]
	The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber	Yellow Dress Maiden	Special appearance	[45]
2010	Tale of the Oriental Serpent	Yin Shuangshuang		[46]
	A Weaver on the Horizon	Zhao Jiayi		[7]
2011	The Vigilantes In Masks	Yan Sanniang		[8]
	Scarlet Heart	Ma'ertai Ruoxi / Zhang Xiao		[9]
2012	Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky	Taba Yu'er		[15]
2013	The Patriot Yue Fei	Lady Yang	Special appearance	[47]
2014	Scarlet Heart 2	Zhang Xiao / Lan Lan		[48]
	Sound of the Desert	Xin Yue		[23]
	Incisive Great Teacher	Lu Yunfei		[49]
2016	The Imperial Doctress	Tan Yunxian		[27]
	Precious Youth	Liu Ting		[50]
2017	The Battle at the Dawn	Song Hongling		[29]
	Angelo	Li Xiaohan		[30]
	Lost Love in Times	Feng Qingchen	Co-producer	[31]
2019	If I Can Love You So	Bai Kao'er		[33]
2020	To Dear Myself	Li Siyu		[34]
	My Best Friend's Story	Jiang Nansun		[51]
2023	A Journey to Love	Ren Ruyi		[52]
2024	Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Love in Pavilion	Dongfang Huai Zhu

Music video

Year	Song Title		Singer	Notes/Ref.
2004	The Night of Falling Flowers	落花之夜	Shao Bing
	When the Wind is the Coldest	风最冷的时候
2008	Go and Love	去爱吧	Hu Ge	[53]
2009	Love Until I Am Alone	爱得剩我一个人	Chen Long
	Dare to Love	敢不敢爱	Hu Ge
2011	I Am Not Going To Be A Hero	我不做英雄

Discography

Year	English title	Chinese title	Album	Notes/Ref.
2011	"Season of Waiting"	等你的季节	Scarlet Heart OST
2016	"Holding Hands"	手牽手		with Nicky Wu
2017	"He Zhe Ban Ruo"	何者般若	The Liquidator OST	[54]

Awards and nominations

Major awards
Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2012	18th Shanghai Television Festival	Most Popular Actress	Scarlet Heart	Won	[55]
		Best Actress		Nominated
	9th China Golden Eagle TV Art Festival	Golden Eagle Goddess	—	Won	[17]
	8th Huading Awards	Best Actress (Ancient Drama)	Scarlet Heart	Nominated	[56]
		Best New Actress		Nominated
		Actress with the Most Media Popularity		Won
2014	19th Busan International Film Festival	Asian Star Award	—	Won	[57]
	6th Macau International Movie Festival	Best Actress	Five Minutes to Tomorrow	Nominated
2015	6th China Film Directors' Guild Awards	Best Actress	Brotherhood of Blades	Nominated	[22]
	15th Huading Awards	Best Actress (TV)	Scarlet Heart 2	Nominated	[58]
2017	22nd Huading Awards	Best Actress	The Imperial Doctress	Nominated	[59]
2019	Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival	Best Actress	If I Can Love You So	Nominated	[60]
Other awards
2011	Grand Ceremony of New Forces	Most Anticipated Actress by the Media	Scarlet Heart	Won	[61]
	Sohu Internet TV Festival	Most Popular Actress		Won	[62]
		Best On-screen Couple (with Nicky Wu)		Won
	2nd China Student Television Festival	Most Popular Actress		Won	[63]
	Nanning Television Festival	Audience's Favorite Actress		Won
	2011 Tudou Video Marketing Award Ceremony	Most Popular Actress		Won	[64]
	Youku Television Awards	Actress with the Most Ratings Appeal		Won	[65]
	8th Esquire Man At His Best Awards	Most Popular Female Artist	—	Won	[66]
	3rd China TV Drama Awards	Media Recommendation Award	—	Won	[67]
2012	5th DMA (DienAnh.Net Movie Awards)	Most Popular Actress (Mainland China)	—	Won	[68]
	3rd LeTV Entertainment Awards	Most Commercially Valuable Actress	—	Won	[69]
	4th China TV Drama Awards	Most Popular Actress	Xuan-Yuan Sword: Scar of Sky	Won	[70]
2013	BQ Celebrity Score Awards	Most Influential Hot Figure	—	Won	[71]
2014	Weibo Awards Night	Weibo Queen	—	Won	[72]
		Weibo Goddess	—	Won
	8th Baidu Fudian Awards	Most Popular Female Artiste	—	Won	[73]
	6th China TV Drama Awards	Most Commercially Valuable Actress	—	Won	[74]
2016	1st China Television Drama Quality Ceremony	Most Influential Actress	The Imperial Doctress	Won	[28]
	5th iQiyi All-Star Carnival	Best Actress (TV)	—	Won	[75]
	Baidu Entertainment	Figure of the Year	—	Won	[76]
2017	2nd China Television Drama Quality Ceremony	Most Influential Actress	—	Won	[77]
2018	Weibo Awards Night	Weibo Goddess	—	Won	[78]
2019	Cosmo Glam Night	Person of The Year (Dream)	—	Won	[79]

2020|Cosmo Glam Night |Person of the year award

Forbes China Celebrity 100

Year	Rank	Ref.
2012	99th	[80]
2013	57th	[81]
2014	25th	[82]
2015	30th	[83]
2017	19th	[84]
2020	29th	[85]