Liu Yifei

Crystal Liu, known professionally as Liu Yifei, was born in Wuhan, China, on August 25, 1987. Her early life included training in singing, dancing, and piano from the age of eight. She relocated to the United States with her mother at age 10, residing there for four years before returning to China in June 2002 to pursue a career in modeling and acting.

In September 2002, at the age of 15, Liu Yifei was accepted into the Performance Institute of Beijing Film Academy. Her acting career began shortly after with a television role in “The Story of a Noble Family.” Following this, she took on the role of Wang Yuyan in “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils,” a drama series based on a novel by Jinyong. In October 2003, she made her film debut in “Love of May” alongside the Taiwanese rock band Mayday. Her recognition further increased with her role in the 2004 drama series “The Legend of Sword and Fairy,” adapted from a video game. After graduating from the Beijing Film Academy in July 2006, she starred in another Jinyong adaptation, “The Return of the Condor Heroes,” which gained popularity in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan.

Liu Yifei also ventured into a music career, signing a recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment Japan in August 2005. After a year of vocal and dance training, her album, “Liu Yifei,” was released in August 2006 across China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia. The album featured a range of musical styles, including rap and soft rock. In the same year, she released a Japanese album, with its single, “The Gate of Late Night,” selected as the theme song for an animation series on Tokyo TV. Her career continued to evolve with significant roles, culminating in her casting as Hua Mulan in Disney’s live-action adaptation in 2017, leading to a prominent international presence.