News | Entertainment
5 Mar 2026 5:43
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
     04 Mar: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a surprise virtual appearance at the NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors
     04 Mar: Suzanne Shaw broke down in tears as she revealed her "messy and unexpected" split from fiancé Sam Greenfield
     04 Mar: Christian Bale has warned his fans not to meet him or they will face "terrible disappointment"
     04 Mar: Kerry Katona has unfollowed Katie Price's new husband Lee Andrews on social media after he reportedly came to blows with Kerry's boyfriend Paolo Margaglione
     04 Mar: Matthew Lillard spent decades "petitioning and campaigning" for a return to the Scream franchise
     04 Mar: Shaun Ryder has described having ADHD as "having a f****** brain like a watering can" - but he is happy he wasn't diagnosed until he was 50
     04 Mar: Harry Styles was advised to practice "peeing on" himself as part of his marathon training
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    New Queensland Firebird netballer Kelly Jackson believes consistent chat between Silver Ferns throughout their club seasons will have the team in a good space for their Commonwealth Games campaign More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Air New Zealand's financial position could worsen before it gets better More...



     Today's News

    Cricket:
    New Zealand's openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert are dominated the South African attack in the first semi-final of cricket's T20 World Cup at Kolkata 5:07

    Health & Safety:
    Budget blowouts, patient safety and 'toxic' workplace claims raised in inquiry into NT's Acacia patient record system 22:27

    Politics:
    Auckland's Mayor's adamant he won't be drawing-up housing maps and plans for the Minister just yet 21:57

    Entertainment:
    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a surprise virtual appearance at the NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors 21:35

    Law and Order:
    Three men have been found guilty after raping a young German tourist in an industrial Auckland carpark last year 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Suzanne Shaw broke down in tears as she revealed her "messy and unexpected" split from fiancé Sam Greenfield 21:05

    Entertainment:
    Christian Bale has warned his fans not to meet him or they will face "terrible disappointment" 20:35

    Entertainment:
    Kerry Katona has unfollowed Katie Price's new husband Lee Andrews on social media after he reportedly came to blows with Kerry's boyfriend Paolo Margaglione 20:05

    Entertainment:
    Matthew Lillard spent decades "petitioning and campaigning" for a return to the Scream franchise 19:35

    Entertainment:
    Shaun Ryder has described having ADHD as "having a f****** brain like a watering can" - but he is happy he wasn't diagnosed until he was 50 19:05


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd