Lucy Liu on confidence, beauty and being herself at 57

For critically acclaimed Asian American actor, advocate, producer and director Lucy Liu, the time is now.

At 29, Liu landed her breakout role in the hit series Ally McBeal. In her early 30s, she made her mark on the big screen with Charlie’s Angels. At 47, she became a mother, welcoming her son, Rockwell Lloyd Liu, via gestational surrogacy. At 50, she became the second Asian American woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Beyond acting, Liu has pursued her passion for visual art for more than three decades, exhibiting her work under her Chinese name, Yu Ling.

Now, at 57, she is entering another exciting chapter as the Asia Pacific ambassador for Merz Aesthetics’ The Proudly Becoming Collection, fronting its regional campaign, Your Time Is Now.

Speaking at the campaign launch at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Thursday, 8 October, Liu reflected on how her perspective on time has evolved alongside the different stages of her life. Visiting South Korea for the first time, she shared that the trip came highly recommended by her friend and fellow actor Daniel Dae Kim.

“I’ve gone through so much transition in my life, not just in my career. I have a child, I have a family,” she said. “I really believe that the time that we don’t understand when we’re younger, we’re just speeding through. We think we’re bulletproof. But as you experience life and go through life more, when you have a child, it changes the dynamic of time. I realise how precious and important it is.”

Motherhood, in particular, has changed how she approaches her wellbeing. “I really prioritise my health and my life so much more, not just for myself, but for other people like my son,” she added.

This appreciation for living well at every stage of life echoes the thinking behind Merz Aesthetics’ latest campaign, which reflects a growing interest in skin longevity among women in their 40s, 50s and 60s. Rather than focusing solely on addressing visible signs of ageing as they emerge, the conversation is shifting towards a more proactive, long-term approach to skin health, quality and radiance.

At the heart of this approach is SkinGivity Solutions®, a framework developed by Merz Aesthetics to help clinicians better understand each patient’s skin needs and longevity goals. Rather than focusing on isolated concerns, it encourages more meaningful patient conversations and personalised treatment planning, with an emphasis on maintaining skin quality over time and achieving natural-looking outcomes.

The philosophy comes to life through The Proudly Becoming Collection, which brings together Merz Aesthetics Asia Pacific’s portfolio of treatments, including Ultherapy PRIME® and other aesthetic solutions, to support personalised treatment journeys tailored to individual needs and goals.

Beauty is highly individual and personalised. As with Liu’s own approach to beauty, it is less about trying to turn back the clock than learning to embrace who she is at every stage of life.

“I’m not the same person today,” she said, reflecting on her role in Charlie’s Angels. “Can’t look or act like that person.” Rather than treating her younger self as a standard she needs to live up to, she believes in accepting the past for what it is.

“Every experience shapes you. You create and evolve,” she said. “Not to punish yourself, [but to] laugh and learn from it.”

This outlook has also influenced her beauty philosophy, which has become considerably simpler over the years. “When I was younger, I was caught up trying to look like someone else or erase freckles that I had,” she shared. “Beauty is not about perfection, just like our personalities.”

Today, her approach is refreshingly straightforward: protect your skin, remember that it is the largest organ of your body, and do not lose sight of the basics. For Liu, getting enough rest and staying hydrated are just as important as avoiding extremes in pursuit of a particular appearance.

She also makes time for meditation and breathwork, practices that help her feel more connected to herself and others. Ultimately, she believes in preserving who you are while allowing your experiences to become part of your confidence and individuality.

Why being yourself matters

For Liu, confidence begins with recognising that there is no one else quite like you. Yet, in a world where we are constantly exposed to other people’s appearances and achievements, it can be easy to forget that.

“Understanding that you are a unique person and not like anyone else” is key to confidence, she explained. “You forget you are your own person and that is what makes you special. You are one of one.”

It is a message she hopes younger women, in particular, will take to heart. Whether it is your height, body shape or personal history, the things you might perceive as shortcomings are also part of what makes you who you are.

“Your deficit is not why you’re here; it is also why you’re here,” she said. “It’s the complications that make you who you are.”

Liu believes that the fear of being replaced can lead people to suppress the very qualities that make them distinctive. Trying to look like someone else, she cautioned, can mean losing sight of your own identity.

“It breaks my heart to see younger people who want to look like someone else,” she said, adding that it can take growing older to realise that you are already enough as you are.

Her advice is to resist the pressure to conform and recognise the value of your own experiences. Rather than treating your differences as things to fix, allow them to become part of your confidence.

Learning to slow down

After more than 35 years in the industry, Liu knows what it means to be passionate about her work. But she has also learnt that ambition needs to be balanced with the ability to pause.

“I used to find work something I was so passionate about, and still am,” she reflected. “My work ethic became almost like an obsession.”

When you love what you do, it can be difficult to step away, especially when every opportunity seems too exciting to pass up. Liu recalled how the fear of missing out made it tempting to keep going, even when it was time to take a break.

“It’s important to stop and realise that you’re not going to lose something if you do that,” she said. “Make space to receive other things.”

She believes this is something many women struggle with, particularly when they become accustomed to giving their time and energy to others without considering their own needs.

“You feel like you constantly give and give and haven’t stopped to receive,” she said. “Women do that too, and it’s not a healthy mindset.”

Her advice is to avoid letting fear become the driving force behind your decisions. “If it’s meant to be, it will be,” she said.

That does not mean shying away from fear altogether. In fact, Liu’s instinct is to confront it.

“When I get scared, I run towards it,” she shared. She acknowledges that fear will always be part of life, but learning to recognise it and become more comfortable with uncertainty can help us stop constantly chasing the next milestone.

“You don’t have to run on a treadmill of life,” she said.

Beauty on your own terms

Liu has never been someone who deliberately follows trends. Instead, she is open to trying something if it feels right for her, while recognising that not every approach will suit everyone.

“I define beauty as an individual choice,” she said. “I’m intentional about finding what’s comfortable for me.”