Lucy Liu's family refuses to admit they're related to the star - because they're embarrassed by her fame.

The actress shot to stardom on the TV show Ally McBeal and has since appeared in hit movies including Charlie's Angels, Kill Bill and opposite Keira Knightley in Domino.

However, her older brother and sister, along with her parents, refuse to let anyone know she is part of their family - because they don't want to be judged by her high profile status.

Liu says, "There's always sacrifices. My family don't generally say that they're related to me - my sister doesn't say she's my sister - because they don't want to be judged or lauded based on who I am."

And the 40 year old admits it took her parents a while to get used to her choice of career, because they never wanted her to be an actress.

She adds, "I think my parents are happy about my career now, but originally I was like, 'Why don't you support whatever I want to do? If I wanted to sell beef on the street why wouldn't you want to support me?' But it's not about that. Parents never stop being parents, and yet you want them to be your friends at a certain age and that's just not going to happen."

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Image © American Broadcasting Inc.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)