Natasha Liu Bordizzo: From Action Star to Feminine Icon in Her New Film

Natasha Liu Bordizzo recently turned 27, purchased a new home, and wrapped up a whirlwind week filled with press engagements and the Los Angeles premiere of her latest film—all in the span of just a few days. While the thought of such a packed schedule is exhausting, Bordizzo herself remains upbeat during our conversation, and for good reason: her long-awaited project is finally out in the world. Nearly two years ago, she filmed The Voyeurs in the icy streets of Montreal, and now the erotic thriller is making waves. Starring alongside Sydney Sweeney, Justice Smith, and Ben Hardy, Bordizzo takes on a central role in a modern-day exploration of society’s obsession with voyeurism. The film delves into questions about the morality of watching others and the price of doing so, all while keeping viewers on edge with unexpected twists. It’s one of 2021’s steamiest films, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, it throws a curveball.

For Bordizzo, The Voyeurs was both an intimidating challenge and an irresistible opportunity to breathe new life into a classic genre. The Australian actress and Chanel ambassador is drawn to projects that whisk audiences away from reality and provide a fun, thrilling escape. Her filmography reflects this philosophy, with diverse roles in everything from her breakthrough lead in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny to Netflix’s hit YA series The Society and her upcoming action-comedy Day Shift. Each project showcases her range, proving that Bordizzo is a talent to watch.

In our interview below, Bordizzo opens up about stepping out of her comfort zone for The Voyeurs, navigating the unpredictability of Hollywood, and rediscovering her femininity.

(Image credit: Daria Kobayashi Ritch; STYLING: Giuseppe Di Morabito top and skirt)

The Voyeurs is the kind of film that will leave audiences both blushing and on the edge of their seats. What drew you to this project?

I think this film might mark a bit of a revival for the erotic-thriller genre, which hasn’t really been explored much in recent decades, since the era of the classics. That was intriguing to me. And much like the audience watching it, when I first read the script, I was blown away by the twists and turns. I couldn’t predict where it was headed, and the ending completely surprised me. Usually, by the time I read a script, I can sense the direction of the plot or anticipate the ending, but this one was different. I remember thinking, I want the audience to experience the same rollercoaster I just went through reading this. It’s a genre I might not have initially considered, but once I met with the director, Michael Mohan—who, by the way, is one of the kindest, most considerate people—I felt safe tackling a project like this. It all just clicked. It was a bit intimidating and different, which is exactly what made it exciting for me. My main goal for audiences is to have fun with it and not take it too seriously.

Your character Julia appears to be confident when we first meet her, but as the story unfolds, we see cracks in that façade. How did you prepare to bring her to life?

I wanted to make sure Julia felt really authentic, especially in her relationship with Sydney’s character, Pippa. It was important that their bond felt real, so the audience wouldn’t be able to predict where the story was headed. I had to be very careful with my performance, because when you know the twists, it’s easy to accidentally hint at them in earlier scenes. I auditioned for the role with an American accent, as I typically do, but during a FaceTime call with the director, he said he really liked my natural accent. Since Ben Hardy, who plays Seb, is British and Sydney and Justice, who play Pippa and Thomas, are American, my natural accent added to the dynamic of these characters moving to a foreign city and meeting these mysterious new people with different accents. It felt very vulnerable for me, though, because I’ve never acted in my natural accent before, and it felt almost like I was exposing a part of myself.

I also connected with Julia on a personal level. She talks about a lack of fulfillment, and I’ve felt something similar in my own life. I’ve done a lot of fashion and photo work, particularly in Asia, and while I’m not a model, the work can sometimes leave you questioning, What’s the point of this? What’s the deeper meaning? There’s an existential feeling that comes with doing work focused on your appearance, and that’s something I could relate to with Julia.

(Image credit: Bertrand Calmeau/Amazon Content Services LLC)

With social media, we all become voyeurs to some extent. Why do you think watching other people’s lives unfold is so addictive?

I’m not entirely sure! Maybe it taps into a natural, healthy curiosity that’s part of being human. I remember reading Sapiens, and it talked about how societies were actually built on gossip. That’s how people structured their roles, and stories were passed down. So, it seems like it’s in our nature to be curious and observe others. But there’s a fine line between curiosity and obsession, and when that line is crossed, things can go wrong. In our film, that moment comes when Pippa buys the binoculars—it’s the turning point where curiosity goes too far. With social media, I think it’s easy for that to happen. I went through a phase of mindless scrolling without any boundaries, and it definitely took a toll on my mental health. Now, I’m much more intentional with how I use it. Sometimes I even delete the apps for a while. It’s about creating boundaries so it doesn’t become an unhealthy habit. In the movie, the progression of events really mirrors this, with Pippa and Thomas starting off as the voyeurs, but then the audience gets drawn into that role too. It makes you question why we’re so intrigued by what others are doing, and how far is too far. The intimacy in the film becomes unsettling because of the motivations behind it. So, the film really asks, Is it okay to be this curious?.

And just like social media, you never get the full story.

Exactly! You can’t fully trust what you’re seeing, which is another big theme in the movie. That’s something Michael [Mohan] wanted to explore, and it definitely comes across. People who’ve seen the film talk about how it connects with our social media culture, reality shows, and why we’re so obsessed with watching other people.

The film’s cast includes some great young actors like Sydney Sweeney, Ben Hardy, and Justice Smith. Did you all become close during filming?

Yeah! The only real challenge was the brutal Canadian winter—it was freezing. Our hangouts revolved around finding any warm restaurant with hot food. Sydney and I are actually quite similar—very low-key, not big partiers. My favorite way to hang out with her was just chilling with her and her dog. We’re both really focused and organized when it comes to work, so we clicked in that way. And Ben and I, since we had a lot of scenes together, spent time comparing our British and Australian experiences, which added to the dynamic of our characters. There was a natural separation between Sydney and Justice’s characters and ours because of that. But it feels like it was a lifetime ago, especially since we filmed before the pandemic. Now, coming back to do press for it, it feels like we’ve lived through so much since then—it’s surreal!

(Image credit: Bertrand Calmeau/Amazon Content Services LLC)

You have an exciting Netflix comedy coming up called Day Shift with Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, and Meagan Good. Can you tell us about that project?

Day Shift is going to be an absolutely wild ride. Our director, J.J. Perry, who has an extensive background as a stunt coordinator and is just made to direct, had the entire movie mapped out in his mind from the start. The story follows Jamie Foxx’s character, who’s secretly a vampire hunter trying to provide a good life for his daughter. Along the way, he meets Dave Franco’s character, who’s part of an international vampire hunter union, and the two of them get caught up in this crazy adventure. I play Jamie’s new friendly neighbor, who’s just moved into his building and ends up getting dragged into all the chaos. The action in this movie is unlike anything I’ve ever done, and I’ve done quite a bit of action! It’s on a whole other level—crazy stunts, flips, contortions, and J.J. is a genius at making it all come to life. It’s such a fun project, and after the tough year we’ve all had, I’m really excited to be working on something that will take people out of reality for a while and just entertain them. I keep imagining the Day Shift trailer popping up on Netflix, and people saying, “What is this?!” because it’s vampires, action, and complete insanity. It’s going to be awesome.

You were pursuing a law degree in Sydney when you were discovered, and shortly after, you landed a leading role in the 2016 sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Things happened quickly for you early in your career. Five years in, what kind of roles and projects are you looking for now?

A lot of it for me comes down to race, being half Chinese and half Italian. Casting can be tricky when it comes to that. Sometimes it’s great—like if there’s a role based on a real person, say a Korean woman, I shouldn’t be cast because I’m not Korean. But other times, it feels too rigid. I’ve been passed over for fictional characters simply because I wasn’t an exact match to their ethnicity, which is something Caucasian actors rarely face. They’ve had the freedom to play Italian, French, Greek, or Irish characters without it being questioned. That’s been frustrating for me. And being mixed can make it even harder. Am I supposed to only play roles that match my exact background—Italian, Chinese, and Australian? It feels limiting. For a while, I felt really down about it. I wasn’t getting roles because I was either too Asian or not Asian enough, or I looked too white. So when people ask me about my dream roles, I have to be honest—it’s not always up to me. Often, casting decisions come down to factors outside my control.

What I look for now are stories that reflect the complexity of real life, which is far more diverse than Hollywood tends to portray. People’s backgrounds and experiences are a mix of so many influences. Someone might be of Chinese descent but grew up in Indonesia and later moved to California, for example. That’s real life. It’s messy and unboxed, and I’m excited to keep finding and telling stories that capture that complexity.

(Image credit: Daria Kobayashi Ritch; STYLING: Giuseppe Di Morabito top and skirt; BY FAR shoes)

Last time we spoke in 2019, you mentioned reconnecting with your inner child through your fashion choices. How has your personal style evolved since then?

Honestly, I’m still all over the place with my style—there’s definitely no consistency. But I do feel like I’m growing up a bit. I just turned 27, and for The Voyeurs premiere and press, I started embracing my natural frizz and went with a bold smoky eye. I thought, “Why not? Let’s go for that sexy, French glam chic vibe.” For most of my life, I’ve leaned into a more natural look, especially with makeup, but now I’m exploring a more mature, sexier side. At the same time, I’ve been reclaiming my femininity. I’ve talked about this before, and I actually had a great conversation with Zazie Beetz where we both felt the same way. In the first few years of my career, I really desexualized myself—I showed up to meetings fully covered, dressed more tomboyish because I wanted to be taken seriously. There’s this unspoken idea that if you present too feminine, you might not be seen as serious, and that’s a huge problem. I used to worry that if I wore something cute or girly, like a little polka-dot dress, I wouldn’t be taken seriously. But now, I’m embracing the fact that I can be both feminine and powerful. It’s been really liberating. I’m wearing more dresses and having fun with my style again. I’m not as much of a tomboy as I used to be.

Is there a particular look you’re into right now?

I always like to keep something a little “offbeat” in my outfits. I don’t want to look too predictable—like I’m wearing all the latest trends perfectly matched together. For example, yesterday at brunch, I wore a simple white linen dress, but I added a ton of gold and bronze necklaces, and I threw on a cowboy hat I bought in Mexico. Just something fun and unexpected. I always want to have a bit of that “What’s going on here?” vibe in my outfits.

I love the cowboy look you’re into right now!

Yeah, I’m really feeling it! I picked up some great cowboy pieces during my travels—like the hat from Mexico and boots from Idyllwild, which has this dreamy, offbeat vibe. When I travel, I love finding unique items that remind me of the places I’ve been. It feels more authentic to wear something I picked up from a cool spot while traveling rather than just buying cowboy gear in L.A. But L.A. can be its own version of the Wild West, so it’s all good!

The Voyeurs is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Interviewer: Becca serves as The Fashion Choices’s Executive Director of Entertainment, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s celebrity and entertainment content. Her responsibilities include ideating, booking, writing, and editing features that showcase prominent figures in the entertainment industry.

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