Lucy Liu Honoured with Réalta Award in Belfast
Actress Lucy Liu received the Réalta Award at the Belfast Film Festival in recognition of her powerful performance in the new film Rosemead. The Charlie's Angels star expressed deep gratitude for the honour, describing Belfast as a “magical” city that holds a special place in her heart.
“I was really touched to be honoured here,” she told the PA news agency. “To actually live here for that month is different than just coming to visit. I felt very connected to the community, and everyone on the crew was very warm and full of joy.”
Liu reflected on Northern Ireland’s history and its transformation, noting that “there’s a story behind everything.” Her new film Rosemead, inspired by true events, follows Irene Chao, an immigrant widow with terminal cancer whose teenage son faces mental health struggles. Set within the Chinese American community of Rosemead, California, the story explores universal themes of resilience, family, and stigma.
“There’s still a lot of stigma around mental health in so many places around the world,” she said.
Liu expressed shock that the tragic real-life events depicted in Rosemead occurred as recently as 2015, calling them “preventable.”
“There was a lot of fear for this mother, and she loved her son so much,” Liu said. “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 Belfast honour highlights her emotional connection to the city and her commitment to telling meaningful stories about love, loss, and mental health.