The best thing to happen to Ally McBeal expounds on hair jobs, chopsticks and being a moron in love Just when the hit series Ally McBeal was becoming predictable in its unpredictability, a litigious powerhouse named Ling Woo turned the show on its head. She's played by actor Lucy Liu.

The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Liu grew up in Queens. She attended NYU and later the University of Michigan, where she majored in Asian languages and cultures. During her senior year, Liu auditioned for a supporting role in Andre Gregory's stage adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Instead, she won the lead, and her acting career was born.

Liu's work in theater productions, including M. Butterfly, led to guest appearances on NYPD Blue, The X-Files and LA Law. A role on ER brought her to the attention of Ally McBeal creator David Kelley, who was searching for new characters and story lines. He immediately cast Liu in a supporting role.Liu has parlayed her exposure on the show into a growing movie career, including a memorable role as a dominatrix opposite Mel Gibson in Payback. "I read the script," she said, "and thought it was dark and interesting." She has also appeared in Clint Eastwood's True Crime and in Molly with Elisabeth Shue.

Liu still finds time for stage work as a member of Los Angeles' Met Theater Development Ensemble. And, she's an accomplished fine artist who has had solo shows in Soho and Venice, California.Robert Crane caught up with the indefatigable Liu on the set of Ally McBeal in Los Angeles.

"Liu changed into a skimpy leather ensemble for her role as Ling Woo and asked me to zip her up. It was my pleasure. While we sat in her dressing room, she constantly tugged at her skirt as she became more animated and vocal. The frequent interruptions by makeup artists, assistant directors, personal assistants and a boyfriend with two dogs didn't affect Liu's stream of thought. She's beautiful, determined and opinionated, and she has a great pair of legs, which she attributes to climbing--rock climbing."

Q1 Playboy: Ling Woo, the character you play on Ally McBeal, has been responsible for some innovative TV moments, such as licking Richard Fish's lips. For what other breakthroughs do you want to be responsible?

Lucy Lui: Ling has done a lot of stuff. She's licked lips, she's sucked fingers and she's given hair jobs. I don't know how David Kelley comes up with these things. They are now the mark of Ling. She definitely has a lot of other things up her sleeve. She's trying to show Fish a little more about foreplay. I think there's also a power struggle between Ling and Fish: He wants to have intercourse and she doesn't want to--to the extent that she's trying to prove a point. She has to stand strong. She might have a lot of other things in store before she gives it up to him.