Lucy Liu Honoured with Réalta Award in Belfast
Actress Lucy Liu has received the Réalta Award at the Belfast Film Festival for her role in the new film Rosemead. The Charlie's Angels star expressed that she was deeply moved to be recognised in a city she described as magical, recalling her previous experience filming Old Guy there two years earlier.
“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 rich history and its remarkable transformation, noting that there is a story behind everything in Belfast.
About the Film Rosemead
Rosemead is based on a true story and centers on Irene Chao, an immigrant widow with terminal cancer, whose teenage son struggles with mental health issues. The narrative unfolds within the Chinese American community of Rosemead, California, but Liu noted that its themes resonate far beyond that setting.
“There’s still a lot of stigma around mental health in so many places around the world,” she said.
Liu shared that she was surprised to learn the real events occurred as recently as 2015 and described the tragedy as something that could have been prevented.
“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 received the Réalta Award in Belfast for her compassionate portrayal in Rosemead, a film exploring love, loss, and the global stigma around mental health.