Liu Tao (, born 12 July 1978) is a Chinese actress. She is known for her roles in My Fair Princess III (2003), Madame White Snake (2006), Mazu (2012), To Elderly With Love (2013), Nirvana in Fire (2015), Legend of Mi Yue (2015), and Ode to Joy (2016).
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 Burmese princess 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 the 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's 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 the 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 the 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 melodrama Hope All is Well with Us.
In 2019, Liu starred in the 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.
Cultural impact Mazu veneration and "cyber-religion"
Liu Tao played the sea goddess Mazu in the 2012 CCTV television series Mazu. Her portrayal later became a popular image of Mazu.
Her connection with Mazu also began during the show's pre-production. The production crew went to the Mazu Ancestral Temple on Meizhou Island, Fujian, and performed the traditional zhijiao (divination blocks) ritual. They asked Mazu for permission to cast Liu Tao. According to reports and local temple accounts, Liu Tao received three consecutive "Holy Blocks" (圣杯), which were taken as a sign of Mazu's approval. The director, Lu Qi, also said that the weather stayed sunny when they filmed scenes at sea, even though rain had been forecast.
After the series was broadcast, some people in coastal areas of Fujian used pictures of Liu Tao as Mazu in religious settings. Some fishermen reportedly put her pictures inside their boats and prayed for safe voyages. Some families also placed her picture on home altars (神龛), alongside or instead of traditional deity statues. Some residents in Fujian also referred to Liu Tao as Mazu when discussing her other acting roles. When Liu, who is from Jiangxi province, appeared in a tourism video for her hometown, some Fujian residents reportedly said, "Mazu is ours."
Liu Tao was later given the title of "Global Ambassador for Mazu Culture Promotion" (妈祖文化全球推广大使). In April 2025, during celebrations for the 1,065th anniversary of Mazu's birth, she returned to Meizhou Island and took part in the spring sacrificial ceremonies.
From 2024 to 2026, some Chinese netizens also used pictures of Liu Tao as Mazu as phone lock screens and wallpapers. Some users made wishes for good luck, safety, or success in university examinations. Others left wishes in the comment sections of her social media posts. These comment sections have sometimes been called "electronic wishing wells" (电子许愿池).
Filmography Film Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/ 2006 The Story of A Bao Liu Jia 2011 The Founding of a Party Consort Jin 2014 You Are The One Cheng Yu 2015 Let's Get Married Tian Haixin 2016 "So Lucky" Cameo2017 Peace Breaker Lin Xiaoye The Foreigner Lam Keyi 2018 The Monkey King 3 Guanyin 2019 Midnight Diner Ming Yue My People, My Country 2021City in the Air空中之城Bai Rong2024High Forces危机航线Fu Yuan
Television series Year English title Chinese title Role Notes/2000 Chu Chu Daughter-in-Law Hu Xingzi 2001 The Sino-Dutch War 1661 Hai Xia Princess Feixue The Joy of Spring Bai Li 2002 The Railway Station Xiao Li Love Me, Love Me Not Fang Xiuxiu 2003 My Fair Princess III Mu Sha The Formidable Sword of Guan Xi Royal concubine of Loulan Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils A Zhu Red & Black 2000 Xiang Xiaoxiao Taiwan Strait Chen Sisi 2004 The Last Concubine Qi RuyuHero During Yongle Period Princess Man'er2005 So It's You Du Muxue/ Jin'er How Much Sorrow Do You Have Queen Zhou the Elder/ Madame Huarui Cherry Red Meng Xing2006 The Legend and the Hero Chang'e Cameo Forensic Heroes Zhou Ju Madame White Snake Bai Suzhen Paris Sonata Yu Yue Cameo Fairy of the Chalice Cheng Xiuxiu Five Disciples of Master Huang MengsaoCameo 2007 The Sword and the Chess of Death Liu Yiyi Big Shot Chu Chu 2008 Flower Woman Huang Mei'er Dali Princess Yang Yujiao/ Yang Axi Wear a Mask and Dance Han Sirui Cameo2009 Cold Night Zeng Shusheng Prelude of Lotus Lantern YaojiCameo2011 Dragon and Tiger Mountain Bai Yu'e Qian Duo Duo Marry Remember Qian Duoduo Hidden Identity Gong Li Journey to the West Guanyin Olive Tree Mu Shan The Glamorous Imperial Concubine Wen JingruoCameo Falling Leaves in Chang'an Bai Lianhua2012 Happiness Full House Yang Lu Sun Yun Two Female Bandits Kui Ying Mazu Mazu 2013 Good Wife Han Dayun Yang XiaohuiCameo Puzzle 1931 Du Juan Angel Cometh Tonight Peng Jiajia To Elderly with Love Jiang Mulan 2014 The Story of a Woodcutter and his Fox Wife Da Jie Cameo Outsmarted His Huashan Legend Yang Yuhuan Happiness Drop From The Clouds Jiang Tianlan Food to Pregnancy Shen Guyu Huahong Huahuo Hua Hong 2015 The Next Station Deng Caocao Warriors on Fire Zhao Zhiyi Nirvana in Fire Princess Nihuang The Legend of Mi Yue Mi Shu 2016The Link Mei Yujuan Cameo Ode to Joy Andy Forever Love Jin Na 2017 Ode to Joy 2 Andy The Advisors Alliance Zhang Chunhua 2019 Hope All is Well with Us Xun Zhao Scouring Marriage Wang Keke 2020 Jing De Zhen 景德镇 Zhao Yuru Face to Sea Du Fang 2021 Poetry of the Song Dynasty 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 Du Jingsong Vacation of Love 2 Cheng Man Gentlemen of East 8th东八区的先生们TamiaBright Future县委大院Li TangLiberation of Shanghai破晓东方Ji Nan Yin2023Be Your Own Light He Huan TBA Puzzle Mei Ruobing
Variety show Year English title Chinese title Role 2014Divas Hit the Road Season 1Regular Member2016Crossover Singer Season 1Contestant (Winner) 2017–2019 The Inn Cast member2026Memories beyond Horizon Season 4Public JudgeGame of Flame Season 2Executive producer
Discography Albums Year English title Chinese title 2014 The Best Time
Singles Year English title Chinese title Album Notes/ 2003 "Only Need You" My Fair Princess III OST 2006 "Fall in Love with You" Madame White Snake OST "Cherry Blossom Island" Forensic Heroes OST 2007 "Cold Night" Cold Night OST 2008 "Tears of Love" Dali Princess OST 2013 "How a Heart-broken Girl is Like" Good Wife OST 2014 "One More Time" Happiness Drop From The Clouds OST "I Won't Be Alone" 2015 "Faded Beauty" Nirvana in Fire OST 2016 "There Will Be Happiness Waiting For You" Ode to Joy OST with Jiang Xin, Wang Ziwen, Yang Zi & Qiao Xin "Can't Say It Aloud" 2017 "Us" Ode to Joy 2 OSTwith Jiang Xin, Wang Ziwen, Yang Zi & Qiao Xin"The Feeling of Home" "Meeting Love" "Battle of Cheng Nan" Theme song of mobile game "Waiting For You To Come Back" Peace Breaker OST "Ordinary Person" The Foreigner OST with Jackie Chan 2019 "Quiet" Hope All is Well with Us OST "Love Your Innocent Eyes" Scouring Marriage OST "The Temple of Heaven" The Temple of Heaven OST
Accolades Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2013 17th China Music Awards Gold Song Award "Brave Love" 5th China TV Drama Awards Best Actress To Elderly with Love 201427th China TV Golden Eagle Award Best Performing Arts Award Audience's Choice for Actress201530th Flying Apsaras Awards Outstanding Actress Nirvana in Fire 2nd The Actors of China Award Ceremony Best Actress (Emerald)201619th Huading Awards Best Actress (Ancient Drama) Best Actress (Revolutionary-Era Drama) Warriors on Fire 22nd Shanghai Television Festival Best Supporting Actress The Legend of Mi Yue 28th China TV Golden Eagle Award Audience's Choice for Actress Most Popular Actress 20173rd Asia Rainbow TV Awards Best Actress (Ancient Drama) Nirvana in Fire Best Actress (Modern Drama)Ode to Joy 22nd Huading Awards Best Actress 23rd Shanghai Television Festival Best Actress 8th Macau International Television Festival Best Actress Ode to Joy 2 2018 31st Flying Apsaras Award Outstanding Actress Ode to Joy 29th China TV Golden Eagle AwardBest ActressOde to Joy, The Advisors Alliance24th Huading AwardsBest ActressThe Advisors Alliance 5th Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China 20196th The Actors of China Award Ceremony Best Actress (Sapphire Category)Hope All Is Well With Us26th Huading AwardsBest Actress (Modern drama) 20207th The Actors of China Award CeremonyBest Actress (Sapphire)
Forbes China Celebrity 100 YearRank 201451st201567th20176th201937th202021st
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