Imagine having a childhood crush on someone, only to end up working alongside them years later—talk about awkward! But here’s where it gets even more intriguing: Lucy Liu recently revealed that she had a secret crush on her future costar, C. Thomas Howell, long before they shared the screen on Southland. And this is the part most people miss—she even had his poster on her wall as a teenager! But here’s the kicker: despite their eventual collaboration, Liu never mustered the courage to tell him about her childhood admiration. Why? Because, as she put it, she was just too ‘embarrassed.’
During a candid interview with W Magazine, the Charlie’s Angels star opened up about her first ‘cinematic crush.’ ‘C. Thomas Howell in The Outsiders—I remember Scotch-taping his picture from a teen magazine to my wood-panel wall,’ Liu, 57, shared with a laugh. ‘He had that quintessential ’80s look: hair blown back, hand casually tucked into his jeans pocket.’ Howell, just 16 at the time, played the iconic role of Ponyboy Curtis in the 1983 film, which also starred Tom Cruise, Diane Lane, and Patrick Swayze. The movie, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, explored the rivalries between the greasers and the Socs in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma, and became a cult classic.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Decades after swooning over Howell’s performance, Liu found herself working alongside him in season 4 of Southland. ‘I never told him about my crush,’ she admitted. ‘We were playing tough cops, and it just felt too weird to bring up.’ Southland, a gritty crime drama that aired from 2009 to 2013, featured Howell as Officer Dewey Dudek in 27 episodes, while Liu joined in 2012 as Officer Jessica Tang for 10 episodes. The show also boasted a stellar cast, including Michael Cudlitz, Ben McKenzie, Regina King, and Shawn Hatosy.
Now, here’s a thought-provoking question for you: If you had a childhood crush on someone and later worked with them, would you ever admit it? Or would you, like Lucy Liu, keep it buried out of embarrassment? Let’s discuss in the comments—this is one of those scenarios that’s both relatable and cringe-worthy in the best way!
