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Lucy Liu reflects on ‘Independent Women’ legacy and Charlie’s Angels impact
The Destiny’s Child hit continues to surprise Liu more than two decades later
Lucy Liu is looking back with pride on her unexpected place in pop culture history, thanks to her name being featured in Independent Women Part I by Destiny's Child.
In an exclusive interview with People, the 57-year-old actress said she still finds it meaningful that her name continues to resonate in a song that defined an era. “I guess it means you’re a part of history,” she said with a smile.
The 2000 hit was originally released as part of the soundtrack for Charlie's Angels, which starred Liu alongside Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz.
It was later included on Destiny’s Child’s 2001 album Survivor and became a global chart success, spending 11 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Opening with the now-iconic lyric referencing “Lucy Liu, with my girl Drew, Cameron D. and Destiny,” the song cemented the trio’s connection to the cultural moment surrounding the film. Liu said she still finds it remarkable how strongly the track is tied to the movie’s legacy.
“I think it’s incredible to have that value that was connected to Charlie’s Angels,” she said, noting the long-lasting impact of both the film and the song.
Beyond the music, Liu also reflected on the significance of her role in the blockbuster, which helped reshape representation in Hollywood.
Her performance as Alex Munday was widely recognized as a breakthrough for Asian representation in mainstream American cinema.
“My pride is knowing that my character was able to change the visual aspect of what Americana was,” she said, adding that she hopes it helped pave the way for broader representation in the industry.
Liu also shared that she still frequently hears the song in public spaces, often catching her by surprise.
At times, she even wonders whether its appearance in restaurants or stores is coincidence or intentional.
“Either way, it’s such a wonderful song,” she said. “As soon as you hear the beat, you know what’s coming. It transports you. That’s the beauty of music.”
