Lucy Liu (born December 2, 1968) is an American actress, voice actress, director and artist who is known for playing the role of the vicious and ill-mannered Ling Woo in the television series Ally McBeal (1998–2002) and Joan Watson in the crime-drama series Elementary (2012–present). Throughout her career, she has received two Screen Actors Guild Awards and has won the Seoul International Drama Award for Best Actress.