Liu Tao

• Name — Liu Tao • Born — 12 July 1978 • Birthplace — Nanchang, Jiangxi • Education — Guangdong University of Foreign Studies • Occupation — * Actress • Singer • Years Active — 2000–present • Agent — Beijing Junqi Feiyang Media Co • Children — Wang Ziyan (zh-Hans-CN) Wang Zijing (zh-Hans-CN)

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.

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).

• Year — English title — Chinese title — Role — Notes/Ref. Reference • 2000 — zh-Hans-CN — Chu Chu • Daughter-in-Law — zh-Hans-CN — Hu Xingzi • 2001 — The Sino-Dutch War 1661 — zh-Hans — Hai Xia • zh-Hans — Princess Feixue • The Joy of Spring — zh-Hans-CN — Bai Li • 2002 — The Railway Station — zh-Hans-CN — Xiao Li • Love Me, Love Me Not — zh-Hans-CN — Fang Xiuxiu • 2003 — My Fair Princess III — zh-Hans-CN — Mu Sha • The Formidable Sword of Guan Xi — zh-Hans-CN — Royal concubine of Loulan • Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils — zh-Hans-CN — A Zhu • Red & Black 2000 — zh-Hans-CN — Xiang Xiaoxiao • Taiwan Strait — zh-Hans-CN — Chen Sisi • 2004 — The Last Concubine — zh-Hans-CN — Qi Ruyu • Hero During Yongle Period — zh-Hans-CN — Princess Man'er • 2005 — So It's You — zh-Hans-CN — Du Muxue/ Jin'er • How Much Sorrow Do You Have — zh-Hans-CN — Queen Zhou the Elder/ Madame Huarui • Cherry Red — zh-Hans-CN — Meng Xing • 2006 — The Legend and the Hero — 封神榜之凤鸣岐山 — Chang'e — Cameo • Forensic Heroes — zh-Hans-CN — Zhou Ju • Madame White Snake — zh-Hans-CN — Bai Suzhen • Paris Sonata — zh-Hans-CN — Yu Yue — Cameo • Fairy of the Chalice — zh-Hans-CN — Cheng Xiuxiu • Five Disciples of Master Huang — zh-Hans-CN — Mengsao — Cameo • 2007 — The Sword and the Chess of Death — zh-Hans-CN — Liu Yiyi • Big Shot — 大人物 — Chu Chu • 2008 — Flower Woman — zh-Hans-CN — Huang Mei'er • Dali Princess — zh-Hans-CN — Yang Yujiao/ Yang Axi • Wear a Mask and Dance — zh-Hans-CN — Han Sirui — Cameo • 2009 — Cold Night — zh-Hans-CN — Zeng Shusheng • Prelude of Lotus Lantern — zh-Hans-CN — Yaoji — Cameo • 2011 — Dragon and Tiger Mountain — zh-Hans-CN — Bai Yu'e • Qian Duo Duo Marry Remember — zh-Hans-CN — Qian Duoduo • Hidden Identity — zh-Hans-CN — Gong Li • Journey to the West — zh-Hans-CN — Guanyin • Olive Tree — zh-Hans-CN — Mu Shan • The Glamorous Imperial Concubine — zh-Hans-CN — Wen Jingruo — Cameo • Falling Leaves in Chang'an — zh-Hans-CN — Bai Lianhua • 2012 — Happiness Full House — zh-Hans — Yang Lu • zh-Hans — Sun Yun • Two Female Bandits — zh-Hans — Kui Ying • Mazu — zh-Hans-CN — Mazu • 2013 — Good Wife — zh-Hans-CN — Han Dayun • 天下人家 — Yang Xiaohui — Cameo • Puzzle 1931 — 迷局1931 — Du Juan • Angel Cometh Tonight — zh-Hans-CN — Peng Jiajia • To Elderly with Love — zh-Hans-CN — Jiang Mulan • 2014 — The Story of a Woodcutter and his Fox Wife — zh-Hans-CN — Da Jie — Cameo • Outsmarted His Huashan Legend — zh-Hans — Yang Yuhuan • Happiness Drop From The Clouds — 幸福从天而降 — Jiang Tianlan • Food to Pregnancy — zh-Hans — Shen Guyu • Huahong Huahuo — zh-Hans — Hua Hong • 2015 — The Next Station — zh-Hans-CN — Deng Caocao • Warriors on Fire — zh-Hans — Zhao Zhiyi • Nirvana in Fire — zh-Hans-CN — Princess Nihuang • The Legend of Mi Yue — zh-Hans-CN — Mi Shu • 2016 — The Link — zh-Hans — Mei Yujuan — Cameo • Ode to Joy — zh-Hans-CN — Andy • Forever Love — zh-Hans-CN — Jin Na • 2017 — Ode to Joy 2 — zh-Hans — Andy • The Advisors Alliance — zh-Hans — Zhang Chunhua • 2019 — Hope All is Well with Us — |zh-Hans — Xun Zhao • Scouring Marriage — zh-Hans-CN — Wang Keke • 2020 — Jing De Zhen — 景德镇 — Zhao Yuru • Face to Sea — 追梦 — Du Fang • 2021 — Poetry of the Song Dynasty — zh-Hans — 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 — zh-Hans — Du Jingsong • Vacation of Love 2 — zh-Hans — Cheng Man • Gentlemen of East 8th — 东八区的先生们 — Tamia • Bright Future — 县委大院 — Li Tang • Liberation of Shanghai — 破晓东方 — Ji Nan Yin • 2023 — Be Your Own Light — zh-Hans — He Huan • TBA — Puzzle — zh-Hans — Mei Ruobing

• Year — English title — Chinese title — Role — Ref. Reference • 2014 — Divas Hit the Road Season 1 — 花儿与少年第一季 — Regular Member • 2016 — Crossover Singer Season 1 — zh-Hans — Contestant (Winner) • 2017–2019 — The Inn — zh-Hans — Cast member • 2026 — Memories beyond Horizon Season 4 — 无限超越班 第四季 — Public Judge • Game of Flame Season 2 — zh-Hans — Executive producer

• Year — English title — Chinese title — Ref. Reference • 2014 — The Best Time — zh-Hans

• Year — English title — Chinese title — Album — Notes/Ref. Reference • 2003 — "Only Need You" — 只要有你 — My Fair Princess III OST • 2006 — "Fall in Love with You" — zh-Hans — Madame White Snake OST • "Cherry Blossom Island" — zh-Hans — Forensic Heroes OST • 2007 — "Cold Night" — 寒夜 — Cold Night OST • 2008 — "Tears of Love" — zh-Hans — Dali Princess OST • 2013 — "How a Heart-broken Girl is Like" — 伤了心的女人怎么了 — Good Wife OST • 2014 — "One More Time" — 再一次 — Happiness Drop From The Clouds OST • "I Won't Be Alone" — zh-Hans • 2015 — "Faded Beauty" — zh-Hans — Nirvana in Fire OST • 2016 — "There Will Be Happiness Waiting For You" — zh-Hans — Ode to Joy OST — with Jiang Xin, Wang Ziwen, Yang Zi & Qiao Xin • "Can't Say It Aloud" — zh-Hans • 2017 — "Us" — zh-Hans — Ode to Joy 2 OST — with Jiang Xin, Wang Ziwen, Yang Zi & Qiao Xin • "The Feeling of Home" — 家的滋味 • "Meeting Love" — zh-Hans • "Battle of Cheng Nan" — zh-Hans — Theme song of mobile game zh-Hant • "Waiting For You To Come Back" — zh-Hant — Peace Breaker OST • "Ordinary Person" — 普通人 — The Foreigner OST — with Jackie Chan • 2019 — "Quiet" — zh-Hant — Hope All is Well with Us OST • "Love Your Innocent Eyes" — zh-Hans — Scouring Marriage OST • "The Temple of Heaven" — zh-Hans — The Temple of Heaven OST

• Year — Rank — Ref. Reference • 2014 — 51st • 2015 — 67th • 2017 — 6th • 2019 — 37th • 2020 — 21st