Having made her acting debut in 2108, Havana Rose Liu has become one of Hollywood’s most intriguing rising stars. However, there’s much more to her than the movies and fashion campaigns that made her famous. While many TV and film audiences recognize her from No Exit and Bottoms, her path to acting has been anything but ordinary.
From an unconventional college major to a childhood passion that shaped her creative outlook, she has built a refreshingly unique career. Long before she landed leading roles, Liu was already carving out her own artistic identity. She has consistently embraced creativity across multiple disciplines, rather than limiting herself to a single profession. Here are several facts about Havana Rose Liu you probably didn’t know.
1. Havana Rose Liu Never Planned to Become an Actress
Unlike many actors who dreamed of Hollywood from childhood, Havana Rose Liu never intended to pursue acting as a career. She originally focused on performance art and creative expression before being discovered for modeling. Acting opportunities followed naturally, eventually leading her to film and television. She has even described her career as something that happened by chance rather than through a lifelong plan.
2. Her Parents Built a Wedding Empire
Havana Rose Liu’s father, David Liu, and her mother, Carley Roney, are the founders of The Knot. It is a wedding planning website that grew into the company now known as The Knot Worldwide. The business became one of the most recognizable names in the wedding industry, and it gave Liu a childhood far removed from a typical Hollywood upbringing. Despite the family’s business success, Liu has often been described in interviews as someone building her own path rather than leaning on her parents’ name.
3. A Scout Discovered Her While She Was Walking in a Park
Havana Rose Liu’s entry into modeling happened almost by chance. She was spotted by a casting scout while walking through Washington Square Park near New York University, New York City. The encounter led to her signing with IMG Models, and it eventually opened the door to acting work she had never planned to pursue.
4. She Has a Rich Multicultural Heritage
Havana Rose Liu is of Chinese descent through her father and Irish descent through her mother. She has spoken about appreciating both sides of her family background and has explored identity through several artistic projects. Her multicultural heritage has also contributed to her distinctive look, which helped launch her modeling career.
5. She Designed Her Own College Degree
Instead of following a traditional major, Havana Rose Liu studied at New York University’s Gallatin School, where students can create individualized programs. She focused on the intersection of art, activism, and wellness, combining subjects that reflected her personal interests. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2019.
6. Havana Rose Liu Became the Face of Major Fashion Campaigns Before Acting Took Off
Havana Rose Liu’s modeling career picked up speed quickly after she signed with IMG. She worked with Gucci, and later became an ambassador for Chanel. She also landed a cover of Vogue Italia in 2020. Her fashion profile helped put her in front of casting directors long before most audiences knew her name from a film role.
7. Her First Big Dramatic Role Came in a Thriller
Havana Rose Liu’s breakout leading role arrived in 2022 with No Exit, where she led the cast as Darby Thorne. Her character was a recovering addict trapped in a rest stop during a blizzard with a kidnapped child and a group of dangerous strangers. The role required her to carry a tense, physically demanding thriller as the lead, and critics singled out her performance even though the film itself received mixed reviews. It was a significant jump from her earlier supporting work in Mayday and The Sky Is Everywhere.
8. She Has Worked Steadily in the Indie and Festival Circuit
Beyond her more mainstream credits, Havana Rose Liu has built a reputation in smaller, character-driven films that circulate through festivals before reaching wider audiences. Her role in Lurker put her alongside rising actors like Théodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe in a project built around tension and obsession rather than star power. That willingness to take smaller, riskier roles has helped her avoid being defined by just one type of character.
9. Havana Rose Liu Is Pansexual
Havana Rose Liu has openly identified as pansexual. She discussed her sexuality publicly while promoting Bottoms, explaining that she considers both herself and her character Isabel to be pansexual. Liu is also part of a group of well-known performers who have publicly used the same label, including Janelle Monáe, Miley Cyrus, Bella Thorne, and Brendon Urie.
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