News | Entertainment
15 Jan 2026 12:31
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Lucy Liu was "so embarrassed" to tell C. Thomas Howell she had a crush on him as a teenager

    The 57-year-old actress fell head over heels for the actor when he starred in the 1983 crime-thriller film, The Outsiders, aged 16, and she even had a photo of him on her wall.


    In an interview with W Magazine, Lucy was asked who her first "cinematic crush" was, and she revealed: "C. Thomas Howell in The Outsiders.

    "I was able to afford one of those teen magazines. I Scotch-taped it up to my wood-panel wall. He had a very '80s look, with his hair blown back and his hand in his jeans pocket. "

    The Outsiders followed the rivalry between two teenage gangs: the greasers, including brothers Ponyboy Curtis (C. Thomas), Darrel Curtis (Patrick Swayze) and Sodapop Curtis (Rob Lowe) and their pals, and the privileged Socs (Socials).

    In 2012, Lucy "ironically" worked with C. Thomas, 59, in season 4 of the TNT crime drama, Southland - which followed LAPD patrol officers and detectives try to stop crime in the Californian city, while they juggled drama in their personal lives.

    But Lucy (Officer Jessica Tang) did not tell C. Thomas (Officer Dewey Dudek) that she fancied him as a youngster.

    She admitted: "I never told him that I had a crush on him, because I was so embarrassed. We were playing tough cops."

    The Charlie's Angels actress has never been married but was engaged to 50-year-old film director Zach Helm in 2004 - two years after they met at a Hollywood bash and dated.

    However, their engagement was called off, and they broke up a few months later.

    Lucy has had other high-profile relationships. She dated Jay Kelly star George Clooney, 64, for a few months in 2000.

    Her longest romance was with Toy Story 4 actor Will McCormack, 51, and it lasted from 2004 until 2007.

    And in 2014, Lucy was romantically linked to businessman Noam Gottesman, 64, but it is not known when they broke up.

    Meanwhile, C. Thomas married Commando actress Rae Dawn Chong, 64, in 1989, but they divorced in 1990.

    He then got hitched to Sylvie Anderson in 1992, and went on to have daughter Isabelle, 32, and sons Dashiell, 29, and 24 year old Liam.

    C. Thomas and Sylvie divorced in 2016.

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     15 Jan: Stephen Graham has told Adolescence fans to "stay tuned" for season two
     15 Jan: One Battle After Another and Adolescence were the big winners at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards
     15 Jan: Chloe Zhao celebrated the "bravery and dedication" of people in the movie industry as she accepted the Best Film - Drama for Hamnet at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards
     15 Jan: The Pitt, The Studio and Adolescence were named the year's best TV shows at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday
     15 Jan: Jessie Buckley hailed Julia Roberts a "hero" as she beat her to the Golden Globe Award for Best Female Actor - Drama on Sunday (11.01.26)
     15 Jan: Owen Cooper admitted it was "mad" to make history when he won a Golden Globe Award for Adolescence
     15 Jan: Jean Smart joked she is a "greedy b****" after winning her third Golden Globe Award for Hacks on Sunday (11.01.26)
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Pressure has emerged demanding changes in the coaching or the culture of the All Blacks after a post-season review More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Potential for a dairy price recovery More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Stephen Graham has told Adolescence fans to "stay tuned" for season two 12:23

    Business:
    Potential for a dairy price recovery 11:57

    Entertainment:
    One Battle After Another and Adolescence were the big winners at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards 11:53

    International:
    Denmark, US fail to agree over Greenland after high-level talks at White House 11:47

    International:
    What is the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal? 11:47

    Entertainment:
    Chloe Zhao celebrated the "bravery and dedication" of people in the movie industry as she accepted the Best Film - Drama for Hamnet at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards 11:23

    Technology:
    Why Iran can’t afford to shut down the internet forever – even if the world doesn’t act 11:17

    Business:
    Fonterra's boss says farmers are used to volatility in prices and payouts 11:07

    Technology:
    From inside Iran, a young protester says the people 'are waiting for America to intervene' 10:57

    Entertainment:
    The Pitt, The Studio and Adolescence were named the year's best TV shows at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday 10:53


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd