Meet Poppy Liu, who plays Helen on Netflix’s His & Hers – and was also Kiki on Hacks
After studying theatre and women’s studies at university, they started a sex-positive production company and acted in shows like Better Call Saul – they’re also a trained doula
The show, which premiered on January 8, follows a couple investigating a murder in which they both believe the other is the prime suspect. Liu – who just turned 35 – takes on the role of Helen Wang, a headmistress at an all-girls’ school.
Here’s everything to know about Poppy Liu.
Their love for performance started young
Born in Xian, China, Poppy Liu moved to Minnesota at age two so their father could pursue a second PhD while their mother worked blue collar jobs including at McDonald’s, per Paper Magazine. Liu’s family later moved back to China when they were 14.
It was in high school in China that Liu’s love for performance really took root. They excelled in traditional Chinese dance and theatre but told the publication that acting never seemed like a viable career path. With their parents’ support, though, they appeared in every school play throughout high school. Later, Liu attended Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, where they majored in women’s studies and theatre, per the university paper.
Liu is as queer and non-binary, and uses both she/her and they/them pronouns.