In the heartfelt Lifetime movie, A List of a Lifetime, the talented Kelly Hu plays a woman who embarks on a journey to reconnect with her daughter after being diagnosed with breast cancer. This film is more than just entertainment—it's part of Lifetime’s annual Stop Breast Cancer for Life public affairs campaign, aiming to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
Kelly, now 53, shared her thoughts with Closer about her character, saying, "I fell in love with this character immediately. There was so much depth and complexity to her story. From losing her parents at the tender age of 11, navigating the foster care system, becoming a mother at 18, and then giving up her child for adoption—each layer was a challenge. It was both physically demanding and emotionally exhausting, but it was an experience I'll never forget."
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Working with Shannen Doherty
One of the co-stars in the film is Shannen Doherty, who bravely shared her stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in 2020. Kelly spoke highly of her, saying, "Shannen was incredibly open and generous about her battle with breast cancer. Her courage and vulnerability really added another layer to the film, making it even more impactful."
Kelly Hu, born and raised in Hawaii, has had an illustrious career in the entertainment industry. Her first major break came when she joined the cast of the popular TV show Growing Pains. Since then, she has been a series regular on Nash Bridges and Hawaii Five-0, and starred in the fantasy adventure film The Scorpion King in 2002. Beyond acting, Kelly is a successful entrepreneur, a passionate philanthropist, and an avid poker player who has competed and won in several celebrity tournaments.
Early Days: The Road to Stardom
When you were a child, did you know you wanted to go into entertainment?
Kelly recalls, "I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of performing. Even as a toddler, I would create songs and perform on my neighbor’s porch or pretend to be a showgirl on stage. I believe this passion was something I was born with."
You started your career as a teenager in beauty pageants. How did that happen?
"It all started when I got a modeling contract in Japan one summer. My agent suggested that winning a local pageant could help promote me and increase my earning potential. So, I entered the first pageant I could find that didn’t require a talent segment," Kelly explains.
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Transitioning to Acting
Was it difficult to transition from pageants to acting?
"I always felt like I was preparing myself to act throughout my life. Growing up in Hawaii, there weren’t many opportunities, except for high school drama classes, which I took for eight semesters. When I moved to Los Angeles, I only had what I learned from my teacher, Mr. Bertino, and one credit from the season premiere of Growing Pains, which I secured while still living in Hawaii," she says.
