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."
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).
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