Liu Tao

Liu Tao (, born 12 July 1978) is a Chinese actress. She is known for her roles in My Fair Princess III, 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."

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

Television series

Variety show

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 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 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 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 Alliance 24th 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 Us 26th Huading AwardsBest Actress (Modern drama) 20207th The Actors of China Award CeremonyBest Actress (Sapphire)

Forbes China Celebrity 100 YearRank 201451st 201567th 20176th 201937th 202021st