Introduction
Liu Tao (Chinese: 刘涛, born 12 July 1978) is a Chinese actress from Nanchang, Jiangxi. She is known for her roles in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (2003), Madame White Snake (2006), Mazu (2012), To Elderly With Love (2013), Nirvana in Fire (2015), Legend of Mi Yue (2015), Ode to Joy (2016) and The Advisors Alliance (2017).
Career
Liu entered the industry in 2000, when she was cast in the family sitcom Daughter-in-Law.
In 2003, Liu was cast in My Fair Princess III, playing the role of Musha. Following the series, Liu rose to fame in China. Her subsequent performance as A'zhu in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (2003) made her a household name.
In 2006, Liu starred in Madame White Snake and gained attention for her portrayal of the titular heroine.
Liu challenged her first antagonist role in Da Li Princess (2009) co-starring Ruby Lin. In 2012, she played Mazu in the television series of the same name. The drama gained high ratings during its run and won at the Outstanding Television Series award at the China TV Golden Eagle Award and Flying Apsaras Awards.
Liu's subsequent performance as a capable career woman and housewife in acclaimed melodrama To Elderly With Love (2013) garnered her the Best Actress award at the China TV Golden Eagle Award and the Best Performing Arts Award at the China Golden Eagle TV Arts Festival. The same year, she starred in Good Wife as a mother and housewife who struggles with the challenges of family-life. The family drama was a ratings hit and along with the discussion of Liu's own marital arrangements, became one of the most talked-about topics on Weibo. As a result, Liu gained a surge in popularity.
In 2015, she starred in acclaimed historical-wuxia drama Nirvana in Fire, playing a strong warrior princess. A wax figure based on her role "Ni Huang" was displayed in Beijing Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. The same year, she co-starred in historical drama The Legend of Mi Yue as the antagonist, and won the Best Supporting Actress award at the Shanghai Television Festival.
In 2016, Liu headlined modern romance drama, Ode to Joy, playing a capable but insecure woman. The drama garnered positive reviews and high ratings, and Liu was nominated as Best Actress at the Huading Awards and Shanghai Television Festival.
In 2017, Liu starred in historical drama The Advisors Alliance, portraying Zhang Chunhua, the wife of Sima Yi. The same year, she featured in the crime thriller Peace Breaker and action thriller The Foreigner.
In 2019, Liu reunited with Ode to Joy co-star Yang Shuo in romance melodramaHope All is Well with Us.
In 2019, Liu starred in historical drama Poetry of the Song Dynasty, acting for Empress Liu E, the wife of Emperor Zhenzong portrayed by the Taiwanese actor Vic Chou. It is directed by renowned director Li Shaohong. The same year, she starred in the drama film Midnight Diner, based on the Japanese manga of the same name.
Filmography
Film
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Story of A Bao | 阿宝的故事 | Liu Jia | |
| 2011 | The Founding of a Party | 建党伟业 | Consort Jin | |
| 2014 | You Are The One | 恋者多喜欢 | Cheng Yu | |
| 2015 | Let's Get Married | 咱们结婚吧 | Tian Haixin | |
| 2016 | So Lucky | 杠上开花 | Cameo | |
| 2017 | Peace Breaker | 破·局 | Lin Xiaoye | |
| The Foreigner | 英倫對決 | Lam Keyi | ||
| 2018 | The Monkey King 3 | 西游记：女儿国 | Guanyin | |
| 2019 | Midnight Diner | 深夜食堂 | Ming Yue | |
| My People, My Country | 我和我的祖国 |
Television series
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 九记饭馆 | Chu Chu | ||
| Daughter-in-Law | 外来媳妇本地郎 | Hu Xingzi | ||
| 2001 | The Sino-Dutch War 1661 | 英雄郑成功 | Hai Xia | |
| 皇城神鹰 | Princess Feixue | |||
| The Joy of Spring | 欢乐青春 | Bai Li | ||
| 2002 | The Railway Station | 候车室的故事 | Xiao Li | |
| Love me, love me not | 信是有缘 | Fang Xiuxiu | ||
| 2003 | My Fair Princess III | 还珠格格3 | Mu Sha | |
| The Formidable Sword of Guan Xi | 关西无极刀 | Royal concubine of Loulan | ||
| Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils | 天龙八部 | A Zhu | ||
| Red & Black 2000 | 红与黑2000 | Xiang Xiaoxiao | ||
| Taiwan Strait | 台湾海峡 | Chen Sisi | ||
| 2004 | The Last Concubine | 末代皇妃 | Qi Ruyu | |
| Hero During Yongle Period | 永乐英雄儿女 | Princess Man'er | ||
| 2005 | So It's You | 原来就是你 | Du Muxue/ Jin'er | |
| How Much Sorrow Do You Have | 问君能有几多愁 | Queen Zhou the Elder/ Madame Huarui | ||
| Cherry Red | 樱桃正红 | Meng Xing | ||
| 2006 | The Legend and the Hero | 封神榜之凤鸣岐山 | Chang'e | Cameo |
| Forensic Heroes | 遍地英雄 | Zhou Ju | ||
| Madame White Snake | 白蛇传 | Bai Suzhen | ||
| Paris Sonata | 巴黎恋歌 | Yu Yue | Cameo | |
| 夜光神杯 | Cheng Xiuxiu | |||
| Five Disciples of Master Huang | 黄飞鸿五大弟子 | Mengsao | Cameo | |
| 2007 | The Sword and the Chess of Death | 魔剑生死棋 | Liu Yiyi | |
| Big Shot | 大人物 | Chu Chu | ||
| 2008 | Flower Woman | 女人花 | Huang Mei'er | |
| Dali Princess | 大理公主 | Yang Yujiao | ||
| Wear a Mask and Dance | 戴着面具跳舞 | Han Sirui | Cameo | |
| 2009 | Cold Night | 寒夜 | Zeng Shusheng | |
| Prelude of Lotus Lantern | 宝莲灯前传 | Yaoji | Cameo | |
| 2011 | 盘龙卧虎高山顶 | Bai Yu'e | ||
| Qian Duo Duo Marry Remember | 钱多多嫁人记 | Qian Duoduo | ||
| Hidden Identity | 掩护 | Gong Li | ||
| Journey to the West | 西游记 | Guan Yin | ||
| Bodhi Tree | 橄榄树 | Mu Sha | ||
| The Glamorous Imperial Concubine | 倾世皇妃 | Wen Jingruo | Cameo | |
| Falling Leaves in Chang'an | 叶落长安 | Bai Lianhua | ||
| 2012 | Happiness Full House | 幸福满屋 | Yang Lu | |
| 知足常乐 | Sun Yun | |||
| Two Female Bandits | 两个女匪王 | Kui Ying | ||
| Mazu | 妈祖 | Mazu | ||
| 2013 | Good Wife | 贤妻 | Han Dayun | |
| 天下人家 | Yang Xiaohui | Cameo | ||
| Puzzle 1931 | 迷局1931 | Du Juan | ||
| Angel Cometh Tonight | 今夜天使降临 | Peng Jiajia | ||
| To Elderly with Love | 老有所依 | Jiang Mulan | ||
| 2014 | The Story of a Woodcutter and his Fox Wife | 刘海砍樵 | Da Jie | Cameo |
| Outsmarted His Huashan Legend | 智取华山传奇 | Yang Yuhuan | ||
| Happiness Drop From The Clouds | 幸福从天而降 | Jiang Tianlan | ||
| Food to Pregnancy | 食来孕转 | Shen Yuyu | ||
| 花红花火 | Hong Hua | |||
| 2015 | The Next Station | 下一站婚姻 | Deng Caocao | |
| Warriors on Fire | 铁在烧 | Zhao Zhiyi | ||
| Nirvana in Fire | 琅琊榜 | Princess Nihuang | ||
| The Legend of Mi Yue | 芈月传 | Mi Shu | ||
| 2016 | The Link | 天伦 | Mei Yujuan | Cameo |
| Ode to Joy | 欢乐颂 | Andy | ||
| Forever Love | 爱情万万岁 | Jin Na | ||
| 2017 | Ode to Joy 2 | 欢乐颂2 | Andy | |
| The Advisors Alliance | 军师联盟 | Zhang Chunhua | ||
| 2019 | Hope All is Well with Us | 我们都要好好的 | Xun Zhao | |
| Scouring Marriage | 亲爱的婚姻 | Wang Keke | ||
| 2020 | Jing De Zhen | 景德镇 | Zhao Yuru | |
| Face to Sea | 追梦 | Du Fang | ||
| 2021 | Poetry of the Song Dynasty | 大宋宫词 | Empress Liu E | |
| Love is True | 我是真的爱你 | Xiao Yan | ||
| Hand in Hand | 陪你一起长大 | Su Xing | ||
| Star of Ocean | 星辰大海 | Jian Ai | ||
| 2022 | Reset | 开端 | Du Jingsong | |
| Vacation of Love 2 | 假日暖洋洋2 | Cheng Man | ||
| TBA | Puzzle | 拼图 | Mei Ruobing | |
| Be Your Own Light | 做自己的光 | He Huan |
Variety show
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–present | The Inn | 亲爱的·客栈 | Cast member |
Discography
Albums
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Best Time | 最好的時光 |
Singles
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Only Need You" | 只要有你 | My Fair Princess III OST | |
| 2006 | "Fall in Love with You" | 爱上你 | Madame White Snake OST | |
| "Cherry Blossom Island" | 桃花岛 | Forensic Heroes OST | ||
| 2007 | "Cold Night" | 寒夜 | Cold Night OST | |
| 2008 | "Tears of Love" | 爱的眼泪 | Dali Princess OST | |
| 2013 | "How a Heart-broken Girl is Like" | 伤了心的女人怎么了 | Good Wife OST | |
| 2014 | "One More Time" | 再一次 | Happiness Drop From The Clouds OST | |
| "I Won't Be Alone" | 我不会一个人 | |||
| 2015 | "Faded Beauty" | 红颜旧 | Nirvana in Fire OST | |
| 2016 | "There Will Be Happiness Waiting For You" | 总有幸福在等你 | Ode to Joy OST | with Jiang Xin, Wang Ziwen, Yang Zi & Qiao Xin |
| "Can't Say It Aloud" | 说不出口 | |||
| 2017 | "Us" | 我们 | Ode to Joy 2 OST | with Jiang Xin, Wang Ziwen, Yang Zi & Qiao Xin |
| "The Feeling of Home" | 家的滋味 | |||
| "Meeting Love" | 遇到爱 | |||
| "Battle of Cheng Nan" | 戰城南 | — | Theme song of mobile game 胡萊三國2 | |
| "Waiting For You To Come Back" | 等著你回來 | Peace Breaker OST | ||
| "Ordinary Person" | 普通人 | The Foreigner OST | with Jackie Chan | |
| 2019 | "Quiet" | 靜好 | Hope All is Well with Us OST | |
| "Love Your Innocent Eyes" | 爱你无辜的眼睛 | Scouring Marriage OST | ||
| "The Temple of Heaven" | 遇见天坛 | The Temple of Heaven OST |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 17th China Music Awards | Gold Song Award | "Brave Love" | Won | |
| 5th China TV Drama Awards | Best Actress | To Elderly with Love | Won | ||
| 2014 | 10th China Golden Eagle TV Arts Festival | Best Performing Arts Award | Won | ||
| 27th China TV Golden Eagle Award | Best Actress | Won | |||
| 2015 | 30th Flying Apsaras Awards | Outstanding Actress | Nominated | ||
| Nirvana in Fire | Nominated | ||||
| 2nd The Actors of China Award Ceremony | Best Actress (Emerald) | Won | |||
| 2016 | 19th Huading Awards | Best Actress (Ancient Drama) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress (Revolutionary-Era Drama) | Warriors on Fire | Nominated | |||
| 22nd Shanghai Television Festival | Best Supporting Actress | The Legend of Mi Yue | Won | ||
| 28th China TV Golden Eagle Award | Best Actress | Nominated | |||
| 11th China Golden Eagle TV Arts Festival | Most Popular Actress | Won | |||
| 2017 | 3rd Asia Rainbow TV Awards | Best Actress (Ancient Drama) | Nirvana in Fire | Nominated | |
| Best Actress (Modern Drama) | Ode to Joy | Nominated | |||
| 22nd Huading Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |||
| 23rd Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actress | Nominated | |||
| 8th Macau International Television Festival | Best Actress | Ode to Joy 2 | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | 31st Flying Apsaras Award | Outstanding Actress | Ode to Joy | Nominated | |
| 29th China TV Golden Eagle Award | Best Actress | Ode to Joy, The Advisors Alliance | Nominated | ||
| 24th Huading Awards | Best Actress | The Advisors Alliance | Nominated | ||
| 5th Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China | Won | ||||
| 2019 | 6th The Actors of China Award Ceremony | Best Actress (Sapphire Category) | Hope All Is Well With Us | Nominated | |
| 26th Huading Awards | Best Actress (Modern drama) | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | 7th The Actors of China Award Ceremony | Best Actress (Sapphire) | — | Pending |
Forbes China Celebrity 100
| Year | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 51st | |
| 2015 | 67th | |
| 2017 | 6th | |
| 2019 | 37th | |
| 2020 | 21st |