Bernice Liu

Bernice Liu
Bernice Liu in 2017
Liu in 2017
Born (1979-01-06) January 6, 1979 (age 45)
Alma materUniversity of British Columbia (BComm), INSEAD (EMBA)
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, commercial model
Years active2000–present
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese廖碧兒
Simplified Chinese廖碧儿
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLiào Bì'ér
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingLiu6 Bik1 Yi4
Musical career
OriginHong Kong
Websitewww.berniceliu.hk

Bernice Jan Liu Bik-yee (born January 6, 1979) is a Canadian actress, singer, and commercial model based in Hong Kong.[1] 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 left Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) in 2011 and returned to Canada to continue her education. As of 2016, she has continued her acting for new broadcaster ViuTV.

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, which she also stars in. 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]

Early life and education

Liu was born in Prince Rupert, British Columbia on January 6, 1979.[4]

Liu has a brother and a sister.[5]

Liu attended the University of British Columbia for three years as a pre-med student[6] in the Faculty of Science before transferring to UBC Sauder School of Business to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce.[7] While in university, she worked at a Chinese language television station in Vancouver to learn conversational Cantonese. The television executives encouraged her to participate in beauty pageants, which led her to win both Miss Chinese Vancouver 2000 and Miss Chinese International 2001. Her victories caught the attention of talent scouts at TVB, who offered her an acting contract in March 2001. Liu accepted the offer and put her studies on hold to pursue an entertainment career. She originally struggled with reading the scripts as they were written in Chinese and received help from her family. She later re-enrolled at UBC Sauder in May 2018 and graduated spring 2020.[7] Liu also graduated from the Global EMBA program at INSEAD.[8]

Career

Liu in Harbour City

In 2002, after a successful reception of Virtues of Harmony, TVB decided to produce a modern spin-off for the sitcom, which she played a different character.[9]

In early 2011, after filming Show Me the Happy and Home Troopers with TVB, Liu left the station. She later starred in several Chinese dramas between 2011 and 2016 and continues to star in dramas for ViuTV.[10][11]

Liu is the CEO and director of Bellavizio, a wine company she founded in 2008.[6][1] They produce wine out of Bordeaux, France, and Napa, California.[1]

Liu is the owner of WineMaven, an online community for wine enthusiasts.[5]

Liu was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.[7]

Personal life

Liu is a Christian.[1] She was previously linked to actors Hawick Lau and Moses Chan, and was involved romantically with Hong Kong billionaire Calvin Lo.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2010 Bad Blood Audrey Lok
The King of Fighters Vice[13] Direct-to-video
2021 The Attorney [14]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001–2002 Virtues of Harmony Princess Sam-tin
2002 Golden Faith Alice
2003 Survivor's Law Jessica
Virtues of Harmony 2 Joey
2005 Healing Hands III Betsy Tsang Suk-kei (曾淑淇)
Into Thin Air Bobo
Love Bond Milly
2007 The Brink of Law Wing
A Devil's Disciples Chi Lung
Survivor's Law II Jessica
Steps Samantha
2008 When A Dog Loves A Cat Kit
2010 Show Me the Happy Cherry
The Mysteries of Love Nickole
2010–2011 Home Troopers Bowie
2012 The Greatness of A Hero
2012 Mystery in the Palace First Chinese Drama
2015 Lion Mums
2016 Margaret and David: Green Beans [11]
2017 Lion Mums 2 [1]
2018 Being An Actor
Afterlife Firm
2019 Till Death Do Us Part
Showman's Show

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wong, Natalie (13 March 2017). "Proust Q&A: Bernice Liu". The Drink Business. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  2. ^ "Stephy Tang and Charmaine Sheh wears the same shoes". The Sun (in Chinese). May 13, 2006. p. 1. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  3. ^ "TVB promotes artists to music industry, Linda Chung wins with 42%". Yahoo! Hong Kong (in Chinese). August 22, 2008. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 12, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  4. ^ "Emme Wong waits to attend 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' premiere". CNMDB (in Chinese). June 9, 2005. p. 1. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Lai, Randy (2020-06-15). "27 Questions: Bernice Liu, actress and wine maven". Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  6. ^ a b 'Time and place no longer a factor' for businesses, says wine entrepreneur Bernice Liu (YouTube video). South China Morning Post. July 5, 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  7. ^ a b c "Finding fame and tackling unfinished business | UBC Sauder School of Business". www.sauder.ubc.ca. April 28, 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  8. ^ "2023 Best & Brightest Executive MBA: Bernice Liu, INSEAD". 25 July 2023.
  9. ^ "High ratings for TVB's "Virtues of Harmony"". Yinsha (in Chinese). June 16, 2004. p. 1. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  10. ^ "Sing Tao Article". Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Bernice Liu Returns to Hong Kong for ViuTV's "Margaret and David"". JayneStars. March 31, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  12. ^ Kong, Dimsumdaily Hong (2020-10-03). "Bernice Liu, the alleged 'gold-digger' HK actress finally rumoured to get married to 2nd-generation tycoon, Calvin Lo". Dimsum Daily. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  13. ^ "becomes a 'great grandmother'". Yahoo! Hong Kong (in Chinese). December 27, 2008. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 29, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  14. ^ "單身廖碧兒突然公布「懷孕」消息:星期一早上有驚喜 (23:36) - 20211025 - SHOWBIZ". 明報OL網 (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2021-10-28.
Awards and achievements
Miss Chinese Vancouver
Preceded by
Crystal Pan
Miss Chinese Vancouver
2000
Succeeded by
Shirley Zhou
Miss Chinese International
Preceded by Miss Chinese International
2001
Succeeded by
Shirley Zhou