Lucy Liu Honoured with Réalta Award in Belfast
Actress Lucy Liu received the Réalta Award at the Belfast Film Festival for her role in the film Rosemead. Liu described receiving the award in Belfast as a deeply moving experience.
Connection to Belfast
The "Charlie's Angels" star reflected on her time filming Old Guy in Belfast two years earlier. She said living there for a month created a strong bond with the community. According to Liu, the crew was "very warm and full of joy."
"I was really touched to be honoured here. To actually live here for that month is different than just coming to visit. I felt very connected to the community..."
Reflection on Northern Ireland's History
Liu was impressed by Northern Ireland’s rich history and the city’s transformation, observing that "there’s a story behind everything."
About the Film Rosemead
Rosemead is based on a true story and centers on Irene Chao, an immigrant widow with terminal cancer. The film explores her teenage son's struggles with mental health within the Chinese American community in Rosemead, California.
"There’s still a lot of stigma around mental health in so many places around the world," Liu noted, emphasizing the film's universal themes.
She expressed shock that the real events occurred as recently as 2015 and called the situation "preventable."
"There was a lot of fear for this mother, and she loved her son so much. I really tried to come from a place of love and to understand how difficult it must have been for her to make that choice."
Author's Summary
Lucy Liu’s award-winning role in Rosemead reflects powerful themes of love, mental health stigma, and tragedy within a transformative Belfast setting.