Poppy Liu: Embracing Herself, On and Off the Screen

Interview by Danielle Kiriakos | Photography by Lenne Chai | Styling by Lindsey Hartman | Production Design by Katrina Songco | Makeup by Michelle Chung | Hair by Tammy Yi using Better Not Younger | Photo Assistant: Chir Yan Lim | Styling Assistant: Claire van Eijk | Production by Leah Oliveria | Location, Hype Studios

Poppy Liu’s rise in Hollywood is more than a career success—it’s a testament to the power of self-love, advocacy, and living with intention. As a queer, first-generation Chinese American, Liu’s path to stardom began on the fringes of entertainment, performing in underground theaters and grassroots collectives. Over time, she realized she didn’t belong in the margins but at the center of her own story.

In No Good Deed, Liu plays a soulful doctor navigating secret, motherhood, and the complexities of relationships. The role feels deeply personal for Liu, who calls motherhood “the most defining moment of my life.” She approaches every role with the same empathy that fuels her activism, particularly her work raising awareness for the crisis in Gaza. Balancing life on set with her advocacy isn’t always seamless, but Liu believes her activism connects her to her artistic heart. “The same muscle required for being an artist is the same muscle required for activism,” she says.

As she takes on bold new roles in His and Hers and Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters, Liu continues to center herself in her values and growth. Her story is a reminder that self-love isn’t just a destination—it’s a practice, one that fuels every step of her path.

Personal Journey

Poppy, as a first-generation Chinese American and a queer migrant, how has your identity shaped your journey in the entertainment industry and your understanding of self-love?

In my subconscious, I truly did not allow myself to consider a future in the entertainment industry for much of my life. It wasn’t even a conscious decision; I just thought, "Why bother? There isn’t a place for me there; I don’t feel commercially viable." This mindset persisted despite my lifelong passion for performance. I believe this is why I was drawn to fringe and underground theater, performance art, and puppetry. These forms felt peripheral to the entertainment industry, like how I felt in my 20s, I participated in a lot of basement poetry events and started a "collective." It seemed that everyone I knew was starting collectives at that time. To be honest, I’m not sure if half of us even understood what that entailed in terms of indie storytelling. I imagined my future might follow a path of local, grassroots storytelling and art activism.

The confidence I gained from finally choosing to pursue a career in the entertainment industry came from meeting many other queer Asians in my mid-to-late 20s. This experience made something click for me; I no longer saw myself as peripheral. I felt centered in my own identity and life, which gave me the confidence to say, "Let me give this a shot.

Balancing Roles

With your busy acting career, philanthropic efforts, and motherhood, what self-care practices do you prioritize to ensure you maintain a healthy balance between your professional and personal life?

I try not to get bogged down by the little things. Especially in a job that has a very public, outward-facing component, it can be easy to get caught up in thoughts like, "What do people think of me?" or "Why that person and not me?"—along with a million other self-conscious and comparative thoughts that drain a lot of mental and emotional energy. Of course, I’m susceptible to these feelings just like anyone else, but I’ve made a conscious effort not to be overly concerned about what others think of me. I care about how I perceive myself, how the people closest to me see me, how I show up as a mother to my child, whether I’m acting in alignment with my own values, and if I’m proud of my work and my personal growth. I leave it at that. I have found that this practice has been crucial in maintaining healthy boundaries and remembering what truly matters at the end of the day.

Parenting and Performing

Have you found any surprising parallels between parenting and performing? And has becoming a mother influenced the types of roles or stories you’re drawn to?

Yes, both roles require me to be very resourceful with my energy. I don’t understand why it has become an industry norm to work 14, 15, or even 16-hour days! I don’t think this is the case in other countries. Therefore, I must plan my energy in advance to ensure I’m getting adequate rest and maintaining my well-being. It can sometimes feel like a marathon. Motherhood is similar! I nap when my toddler naps, find pockets of time to rest and recharge, and schedule stressful tasks on days when I know I have ample childcare. I've even taken 10-minute naps in numerous parking lots. With both performing and parenting, you learn to nap anywhere, at any time of day, in any position, for however long you can.

Character Exploration

In "No Good Deed," you play a soulful doctor who may have secrets. How do you relate to your character's journey of self-discovery, and what insights have you gained about relationships through this role?

My character deeply desires to be a mother and start a family. When we filmed, my toddler had just turned one. Motherhood has been the most defining moment in my life, much like it is for my character. I don’t mean this in a way that I lost my sense of self; rather, it’s the opposite. I've always wanted to be a mother since I was young—it's the one thing I’ve been sure of. I’m still unsure about marriage; perhaps if the right person comes along, but I’ve always known I want to be a mom. One thing I love about my character Sarah is her confidence in her relationship. Even during disagreements, she never questions if she’s with the wrong person. I haven’t experienced that level of confidence in a relationship yet, and I admire that about Sarah. I want to manifest that same level of confidence, love, and trust in a partner.

Reflection on Relationships

In your various roles, including in "Hacks" and upcoming projects, how do you think relationships are portrayed in a way that encourages self-discovery and personal growth?

In "Hacks," I love that the main relationship is between two intergenerational women. My two main relationships are also my friendships with Ava and Deborah. I appreciate that women and femme-centered friendships are taking center stage in so many stories, especially when we support and help each other grow. While Ava and Deborah have a complicated relationship, I love that Kiki serves as a hype person for them both. In the upcoming Boots Riley movie, the core of the story revolves around a friendship among four women who engage in heisting together. I enjoy seeing portrayals of what friendships can look like. There’s often a lot of emphasis on romantic relationships, but I believe deep friendships are some of the most significant relationships in our lives.

Advocacy and Self-Love

You are actively involved in advocacy work, particularly regarding the crisis in Gaza. How does your passion for social justice influence your self-care and identity, and how do you think it impacts your relationships with others?

I believe my activism provides the strength to continue with my creative work. It connects me with empathy for the world around me. As actors, we’re asked to empathize with the characters we portray, stepping into lives and situations we haven’t experienced. How can we empathize with a fictional world without also empathizing with the real one? The same muscle required for artistry is also needed for activism. However, it can feel incredibly dystopian to see reels from Gaza, communicate with families there, and figure out how to offer support while sitting in a cast chair on a multi-million-dollar movie set in full glam. In those moments, the world feels unbalanced, and I sometimes question what I’m doing. I don’t always link having an artist’s heart with the practicalities of working in Hollywood. Some projects deeply move me, while others feel like just a job. Yet, the activism piece always connects me to my artist’s heart.

Artistic Discovery

What specific practices or experiences helped you figure out who you are as an artist?

As I mentioned earlier, I did a lot of “performing” and self-discovery as an artist outside of Hollywood, for which I’m very grateful. I think it would be challenging to find myself or come of age as an artist in Hollywood; I respect those who have successfully done so. There’s a public nature that isn’t always kind to trial and error. There are big egos and unseen suits in tall buildings, as well as invisible capitalist strings that dictate what gets made and what doesn’t. Figuring out who you are as an artist and a person often requires quietness and solitude. You must explore many paths that lead to dead ends before discovering what works for you. You create a lot of cringeworthy work before producing something good, and even then, you’ll still create cringe-worthy pieces. My advice is to not be afraid to start. I remember getting advice from my friend Kit Yan about a play I wrote, realizing some parts hadn’t aged well and that I hadn’t handled certain elements effectively at the time. I had edited it repeatedly but kept getting stuck. I’ll always remember his response: he shrugged and said, “Just write something new.”

Future Aspirations

As you look forward to your next Netflix series "His and Hers," what are your hopes for how your character's experiences will resonate with viewers?

“His and Hers” is quite different from most of my projects; it’s extremely dark and heavy. The character is a departure from many roles I play—she’s the headmistress of an all-girls school and quite difficult. I loved working with Will Oldroyd; he creates beautiful worlds and directs wonderfully. I’m also very excited about the Boots Riley movie I just completed, "I Love Boosters." It truly felt like a dream job. Boots has a one-of-a-kind vision and a unique voice; stepping into one of his stories is like an acid trip with social and class commentary. This movie is no exception, and it’s also a visual feast. I won’t give too much away, but I’m excited for it to come out!

Follow Poppy on Instagram @poppyrepublic.