Christina (Poppy) Liu, professionally known as Poppy Liu, is a Chinese-American actress, activist and producer, widely recognized for their role as Kiki in HBO Max’s Hacks (2021), which gave them a SAG nomination for Outstanding Performance. Liu is also known for their role as Sarah in Netflix’s dark comedy series, No Good Deed (2024) and as Amy in Tales of the Walking Dead (2022). 

Poppy Liu Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education

Poppy Liu was born on January 11, 1992 (Poppy Liu age: 33) in Shanghai, China. Liu grew up in between Minnesota and Shanghai, and while they were in high school, was enthralled by various art forms such as ballet, theater and dance. Their father is an engineering professor. 

Liu later went on to graduate from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, with a degree in Women’s Studies and Theater in 2013. 

Poppy Liu Biography: Career

Shortly after graduating from Colgate University, Liu founded Collective Sex, a production company that worked to eradicate the stigma surrounding identity and sex. Liu directed a short film titled Names of Women (2018), which premiered in New York City; the film advocated for important topics centered around reproductive rights. 

Liu’s filmography includes appearances in shows including Dollface (2022), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2019) and New Amsterdam (2018). They also landed a role as Jo in the popular drama series Better Call Saul (2015) and was a part of the recurring cast in Season 5 of the show. 

In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Liu shared their experience working with Academy Award-winning actress and producer Rachel Weisz on Dead Ringers (2023), a psychological drama miniseries. 

“I mean, she’s so dreamy to work with, and for as dark and moody as the show is, I think on set there was actually a lot of levity and joy. I think as a scene partner, you feel really taken care of by her,” Liu recollected, smiling. “One of the first times we were on set, there was just so much giggling. I remember Sean was directing that one, and we did a take. But we were just giggling the whole time and running about. Afterwards, he was like ‘OK, maybe I like that one but less like toddlers,'” Liu told uInterview, chuckling. “And we were like totally, totally our bad, sorry. I don’t know, there’s just a lot of sense of play in it. I think you feel that in the series, there is a buoyancy that balances out by how heavy it can get. And yeah, I think she’s a really funny actor, so there’s a lot of humor to everything.” 

When asked if Liu feels any sort of sympathy or relationship with her character, Greta, in Dead Ringers, this is what they had to say:

“Yeah, I mean I have a lot of love for her. She’s just such a weird, strange little freaky weirdo,” Liu said, smiling. “And yeah, it’s just like a…loner, a could-be creative genius, could-be serial killer. Very deep, unsolved mother issues. Probably needs therapy, but does this instead. So I mean, she’s fascinating to play. She’s the best kind of character to play – many layered, complex, a bit of a Rubik’s Cube.”

When asked about how their experience in real life as a Doula brought insight to the role, they replied with:

“I mean, I wasn’t on set thinking, ‘OK, I’m gonna talk someone through labor right now, or make a birth plan,’” Liu joked. “But I think thematically and visually, the show touches on so many topics of birth, and it really is quite brave. You know, it talks about racial discrepancies in birth, and sort of, the ugly history that this country has around forced sterilization and people not having autonomy over their bodies. Yeah, it goes into some heavy places, but as much as the show itself borders on body horror at times, some of the reality of this is that it’s just what the world is like,” they said, shrugging.

“It’s bad out there, and there’s nothing else that exists like it out there that shows birth as head-on as this one does. But it’s wrapped in such a sexy, dark, strange, confusing, psychologically-tormenting and magnificent world that you’re just saturated with visuals and information. And afterwards you realize, ‘Oh wow, I think I just saw more people give birth in this one episode than I have in my entire life of consuming media.’” 

She has recently gained attention for her supporting role in the hit HBO show Hacks.

Poppy Liu Biography: Personal Life

Liu identifies as queer and is nonbinary, using they/them and she/her pronouns. Their short film, Names of Women, is made up of an all-female crew, and Liu’s personal experience with abortion in 2015 was part of what inspired the short film.

Liu has a child with her former partner, U.S. Marine Jonah Tucker. They had begun dating in 2020 and parted ways soon after their child was born in 2022. 

Liu is currently busy with the post-production for Boots Riley’s film, I Love Boosters, and several other projects, while actively providing doula services, particularly to women of color and transgender people. 

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