Bernice Liu

Bernice Liu
Chinese name 廖碧兒 (traditional)
Chinese name 廖碧儿 (simplified)
Pinyin Liào Bì'ér (Mandarin)
Jyutping Liu6 Bik1 Yi4 (Cantonese)
Ancestry Taishan, Guangdong[1]
Origin Hong Kong
Born (1979-01-06) January 6, 1979
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada
Other name(s) Liu Bik-yee
Occupation Actress, singer, commercial model
Years active 2001–present
Official website www.berniceliu.hk

Bernice Jan Liu (born January 6, 1979) is a Canadian actress, singer, and commercial model based in Hong Kong. She has previously held the title Miss Chinese Vancouver 2000 as well as Miss Chinese International 2001, the latter position bringing her fame in Hong Kong.

Liu was best known for her role as Princess Sam-tin in the long-running TVB sitcom, Virtues of Harmony, which was also her first role after joining TVB in 2001. Liu's singing breakthrough came to an attention in 2005 after she lent her voice for the theme song of the 2005 TVB serial drama, Into Thin Air. The theme song, "Truth," was Liu's first theme song and was one of the primary promotional songs for the TVB compilation album, Lady in Red (2006), which sold past 10,000 copies in the first day of release.[2] Liu was also listed by critics as one of the few TVB artists to look forward to in a future singing career.[3] Liu left TVB in 2011.

Biography

Early life and Miss Chinese International

Liu was born in Prince Rupert, British Columbia on January 6, 1979.[4] She attended Pineridge Elementary School and Prince Rupert Secondary School. After graduating from secondary school, she moved to Vancouver to attend University of British Columbia but Liu did not complete her business degree. Although both of her parents spoke Cantonese, she had limited knowledge of the language. For the fastest and easiest way to learn it, her friends recommended she enter the Miss Chinese (Vancouver) Pageant, which she did in 2000. The pageant is an annual beauty contest organized by Fairchild Television, and it helps selects Vancouver representatives to enter the Miss Chinese International Pageant of Hong Kong. Eventually, she won the crown along with the title "Miss Photogenic." She then represented Vancouver and entered the promising Miss Chinese International Pageant a year later and took the Miss Chinese International 2001 title, as well as winning the "Miss Cosmopolitan" and "Miss Talent" awards.[5] Soon after, Liu was offered an artist contract to Hong Kong's leading television company, TVB, the same channel that hosted the Miss Chinese International pageant.[5]

Career

Liu received her first role that same year and portrayed Princess Sam-tin in the 2001 costume sitcom, Virtues of Harmony. The sitcom was a ratings hit, becoming a popular prime-time family watch for the audiences of Hong Kong. Originally an 100-episode sitcom, TVB extended the sitcom to 300 half-hour episodes, becoming the longest costume sitcom TVB has ever produced. Liu's role as the runaway princess was also highly recognized, and she became unofficially nicknamed as "Princess" by fans and the media for a while. However, in her early acting career, her portrayal earned mixed reviews due her lack of fluency in Cantonese.

Stabilizing career

In 2002, after a successful reception of Virtues of Harmony, TVB decided to produce a modern spin-off for the sitcom.[6] Liu was given the role Joey Wong, an undergraduate fashion designer working for her father's company. That same year, Liu recorded songs for Happy Together, a soundtrack consisting of songs recorded by the Virtues of Harmony cast. The album was released on February 6, 2003. While Virtues of Harmony II filming was active, Liu was given a recurring guest role in the 2002 serial drama, Golden Faith as Alice Yiu, starring opposite Gallen Lo. Golden Faith did well in Hong Kong but received mixed reviews from critics. While some critics regard it as a masterpiece, other critics whiplashes the series for its unrealistic characters. Nonetheless, the drama achieved a high rating spot, becoming one of the top ten most viewed Hong Kong series of 2002. Virtues of Harmony II was released in 2003 and also well received with good ratings. Liu, however left the series in 2004 due to co-star Frankie Lam's rocky marriage to actress Kenix Kwok. Lam ultimately never returned to the series even when it concluded in January 2005. The incomplete ending for Liu left viewers upset.

Her first theatrical motion picture role was in My Wife is 18 (2002). Liu portrayed the supporting role, Miss Lee, a Physical Education teacher who is attracted to Ekin Cheng's character, Sap-Saam. The film won "Best Comedy Film 2002" in Hong Kong. Liu then attracted broader attention for her role as Jessica Chiang in the 2003 serial drama Survivor's Law, in which she played a sweet and clumsy trainee solicitor. The role received her critical praise and she became a popular candidate for Most Improved Actress at the annual TVB Anniversary Awards. Survivor's Law was the eighth most viewed series of 2003, peaking at 37 ratings points.
"Truth" (2005)
Liu's first and most successful solo song to date.
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Liu's singing career began a rise in 2005, when she sang the theme song for Into Thin Air. The theme song became a promotional single for Lady In Red, a compilation album consisting of TVB theme songs and sub songs. The single became a number one hit and won a Jade Solid Gold recognition in 2006. Following the success of the single that same year, Liu won the "Best Newcomer Awards at the Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards. Liu then began to sing a chain of other songs for television series, such as "Break Up" (also a track in the Lady In Red compilation), "Do You Still Need To Care," and "So In Love With You."

Liu emerged as a dark horse candidate as TVB's top-earning artists of 2006, mostly due to her numerous endorsement contracts. In the summer of 2006, Liu earned a contract with Nike, and became the first Asian spokesperson for the company. Her posters are now all over Asia promoting Nike products.

In 2007, Liu beat award winning-actress Charmaine Sheh to claim TVB's top earning artist spot of 2007 earning HK$4.8 million. Liu, along with Myolie Wu, Nancy Wu, and other TVB stars, became judges for 2007 Mr. Hong Kong.

After TVB

In early 2011, after filming Show Me the Happy and Home Troopers with TVB, Liu left the station.[7] She is currently filming for Ricky Wong's new network, HKTV. She is also starring in Singapore's MediaCorp 5 Lion Moms TV series.

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2002 My Wife is 18 Miss Lee
2003 My Dream Girl Winnie
2004 Heat Team Macy
2009 The King of Fighters Vice[8] Direct-to-video
2010 Bad Blood Audrey
72 Tenants of Prosperity Bullet-tooth Jane
The Legend is Born – Ip Man Yumi Kitano
Perfect Wedding Mimi
2016 Lost in the Pacific Nikki Lee

Television dramas

Year Title Role Notes
2001–03 Virtues of Harmony Princess Sam-tin / Kung Yan-so / Tin-sam Sitcom regular
2002 Golden Faith Alice Yiu Si-lai Guest appearance (Episodes 16–18)
2003 Survivor's Law Jessica Chiang Si-ka Nominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for Most Improved Actress (Top 5)
2003–04 Virtues of Harmony II Joey Wong Yee Sitcom regular
Nominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for Most Improved Actress (Top 5)
2004 Supreme Fate Yau Man-yi
2005 Love Bond Kei Mei-lai Astro Drama Awards for My Favourite Character
Astro Drama Awards for My Favourite Couple shared with Moses Chan
Nominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for Most Improved Actress (Top 5)
Healing Hands III Betsy Tsang Suk-kei
Into Thin Air Man Tai-bo Nominated — Astro Drama Awards for Favourite Theme Song
2007 The Brink of Law Tsui Wing Nominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for Most Improved Actress (Top 5)
Best Selling Secrets Herself Cameo appearance (Episode 18)
Devil's Disciples Pak-tong Chi-lung Nominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for Most Improved Actress (Top 5)
Steps Samantha Lee Sam-ying Nominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for Best Actress (Top 20)
Nominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for My Favourite Female TV Character (Top 20)
Nominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for Most Improved Actress (Top 5)
Nominated — Astro Drama Awards for Most Unforgettable Kiss with Steven Ma
Survivor's Law II Jessica Chiang Si-ka Cameo appearance (Episode 2)
2008 Wasabi Mon Amour Ally Ko Yau-lai / Yim Lei Nominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Top 10)
When a Dog Loves a Cat Kit Man Chi-kei
2010 The Mysteries of Love Nickole Ling Man-ka
2010–11 Show Me the Happy Cherry Lui Ying-hung Sitcom regular
Home Troopers "Kam" Tung Kam-po
2012 Mystery in the Palace Imperial Noble Consort
The Greatness of a Hero Dik Ching-luen Previously warehoused; released overseas and on DVD in April 2009
2013 The Slicing of the Demon Fok Sin-yiu Previously warehoused; released overseas and on DVD in March 2007
Sheng Yan Du Ningxiao
Earth God and Earth Grandmother 趙月 Zhao Yue
2014 Gao Shan Qing
2015 Once Upon a Song Agnes Man
Ji Xiang Tian Bao Du San Niang
Lion Moms Jennifer Tan Lead role (MediaCorp's drama)

Television songs

YearTitleTV seriesTypeAlbumOther notes
2003"Everyone Laughs" (皆大歡笑)Virtues of HarmonySub-themeHappy Togetherwith Virtues of Harmony cast
"Fighting Lovers" (鬥氣冤家)Virtues of HarmonySub-themeHappy Togetherwith Frankie Lam
"A Woman Waiting For Love" (等愛的女人)Virtues of HarmonySub-themeHappy Togetherwith Nancy Sit, Bondy Chiu, Joyce Chen
2005"Heart's Words" (心裡話)Love BondSub-themewith Michael Tao, Kenix Kwok, Moses Chan
"Truth" (實情)Into Thin AirThemeLady In Red
2006"Chocolate and Vanilla" (朱古力與雲呢拿)Sugar Sugar RuneThemeEEG TVB Children Themeswith Myolie Wu
2007"Break Up" (分手)The Brink of LawEnding songLady In Red
"Do You Still Need To Care" (還用在意嗎)The Slicing of the DemonTheme
"I'm So In Love With You"StepsThemeIn Love With Drama
2008"Dream" (夢)DoraemonTheme
2010"Show Me the Happy" (依家有喜)Show Me the HappyTheme features Show Me the Happy cast

Music video appearances

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Bernice's stubborn love". The Sun (in Chinese). 2006-08-18. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  2. ↑ "Stephy Tang and Charmaine Sheh wears the same shoes". The Sun (in Chinese). 2006-05-13. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  3. ↑ "TVB promotes artists to music industry, Linda Chung wins with 42%". Yahoo! Hong Kong (in Chinese). 2008-08-22. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  4. ↑ "Emme Wong waits to attend 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' premiere". CNMDB (in Chinese). 2005-06-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  5. 1 2 "Toronto beauty Bernice Liu wins crown and two other awards". Epoch Times (in Chinese). 2001-01-21. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  6. ↑ "High ratings for TVB's "Virtues of Harmony"". Yinsha (in Chinese). 2004-06-16. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  7. ↑ "Sing Tao Article".
  8. ↑ "becomes a "great grandmother"". Yahoo! Hong Kong (in Chinese). 2008-12-27. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-01-09.

External links

Awards and achievements
Miss Chinese Vancouver
Preceded by
Crystal Pan		 Miss Chinese Vancouver
2000 		Succeeded by
Shirley Zhou
Miss Chinese International
Preceded by
Sonija Kwok		 Miss Chinese International
2001 		Succeeded by
Shirley Zhou
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