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. The Charlie's Angels star expressed deep emotion upon receiving the honour in Belfast, a city she described as "magical."

Reflecting on her experience filming Old Guy in Belfast two years prior, Liu said,

“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, and everyone on the crew was very warm and full of joy.”

Liu was also moved by Northern Ireland’s history and the city’s remarkable transformation, noting,

“There’s a story behind everything.”

About the Film Rosemead

Rosemead is based on a true story and follows Irene Chao, an immigrant widow with terminal cancer. Her teenage son faces mental health struggles within the Chinese American community of Rosemead, California. Liu emphasized the film’s broader relevance, stating,

“There’s still a lot of stigma around mental health in so many places around the world.”

She was surprised to learn the real events took place as recently as 2015 and described the tragedy as preventable. Liu reflected,

“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.”

Summary

Lucy Liu’s award recognition highlights her heartfelt connection to Belfast and her commitment to portraying complex mental health issues in Rosemead.

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RTE.ie — 2025-11-04